Welcome to the History Unplugged Podcast, the unscripted show that celebrates unsung

heroes, myth busts historical lies, and rediscovers the forgotten stories that changed our world.

I'm your host, Scott Rank.

Probably one of the most interesting and complicated of the founding fathers is Henry Lee,

also known as Light Horse Harry Lee.

He was the father of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, and he rose to glory.

He fought in the American Revolution.

He helped ratify the Constitution, gave

eulogies for Washington and Patrick Henry, but ultimately ended his life in ruin due to very

poor decision-making and impulse control. Henry Lee got the nickname Light Horse Harry Lee,

due to him being a brilliant cavalryman who played a crucial role in Nathaniel Green strategy

that led to Britain surrender in Yorktown.

He had incredible success as a cavalryman despite having no military experience before the Revolutionary War.

He was a close friend of George Washington and gave the famous eulogy of first in war, first in peace,

first in the hearts of his countrymen, which is widely quoted today.

He was a strong supporter of the Constitution.

His arguments led Virginia, the most influential colony in the suit to be country, to ratify it. But he experienced

a downfall due to land investments that led to bankrupting his family. He was the victim of a political

mob. He was beaten with clubs and his nose was partially sliced off and hot wax was dripped in his eyes.

And in order to escape creditors, he ultimately wandered the Caribbean for several years,

become an isolated, lonely old man with no company whatsoever, and accumulates more debt and

can only pay it off by swindling a widow.

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