Light-Horse Harry Lee: A Founding Father's Journey From Glory to Ruin

History Unplugged Podcast

History Unplugged

Society & Culture, History

4.2 • 3.7K Ratings

🗓️ 28 March 2019

⏱️ 67 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The history of the American Revolution is written by and about the victors like Washington, Jefferson, and Adams. But separating the heroes from the villains is not so black and white.

So how should we remember a man like Major General Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee III—the father of Robert E. Lee— who rose to glory, helped shape the fabric of America, but ultimately ended his life in ruin? He is responsible for valiant victories, enduring accomplishments, and catastrophic failures.

Today I'm speaking with Ryan Cole, author of the new book Light-Horse Harry Lee: The Rise and Fall of a Revolutionary Hero

We discuss how he was a...

Brilliant cavalryman who played a crucial role in Nathanael Greene’s strategy that led to Britain’s surrender at Yorktown
Close friend of George Washington—he gave the famous eulogy of “first in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen” which is widely quoted today
Strong supporter of the Constitution—his arguments led Virginia, the most influential colony in the soon-to-be country, to ratify it
Victim of a violent political mob—he was beaten with clubs, his nose was partially sliced off, and hot wax was dripped into his eyes

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to the History Unplugged Podcast.
0:05.4	The unscripted show that celebrates unsung heroes, Mythbust's historical lies, and rediscoveres
0:11.9	the forgotten stories that changed our world.
0:15.5	I'm your host, Scott Rank.
0:23.7	Probably one of the most interesting and complicated of the founding fathers is Henry Lee, also known
0:28.5	as Light Horse Harry Lee.
0:30.3	He was the father of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, and he rose to glory he fought in the
0:34.7	American Revolution, he helped ratify the Constitution, gave eulogies for Washington
0:39.5	and Patrick Henry, but ultimately ended his life in ruin due to very poor decision-making
0:44.6	and impulse control.
0:46.3	Henry Lee got the nickname Light Horse Harry Lee due to him being a brilliant cavalryman
0:50.4	who played a crucial role in a thingal green strategy that led to Britain's surrender
0:53.9	in Yorktown.
0:54.9	He had incredible successes in cavalryman despite having no military experience before
0:58.5	the Revolutionary War.
1:00.2	He was a close friend of George Washington and gave the famous eulogy of First and War,
1:04.6	First and Peace, First and the Hearts of his countrymen, which is widely quoted today.
1:08.9	He was a strong supporter of the Constitution, his arguments led Virginia, the most influential
1:13.6	colony in the suit to be country, to ratify it, but he experienced a downfall due to land
1:18.7	investments that led to bankrupting his family.
1:21.3	He was the victim of a political mob, beaten with clubs and his nose was partially sliced
1:25.8	off and hot wax was dripped in his eyes.
	...

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