Lee, Charles (1731-1782), was an officer in the American army during the Revolutionary War (1775-1783). Although he fought bravely, he was not always obedient, and some historians regard him as a traitor.
Lee was born on Jan. 26, 1731, in Chester, England, and joined the British Army. He served in the Seven Years’ War (1756-1763), and took part in the capture of Montreal in 1760. After returning to North America in 1773, Lee joined the patriots against the British. He became a major general in 1775. In 1776, he led the American army in the South.
The British captured Lee in 1776 at Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and held him in New York for a year. They released him in 1778, and Lee returned to fight with the patriot forces. At the Battle of Monmouth in 1778, he advanced with the American forces against the British Army, then retreated. Lee asked for a court-martial to clear his name, but he was found guilty of misconduct. He died on Oct. 2, 1782.
