Charles Lee

General Charles Lee lives in obscurity whereas Harry "Lighthorse" Lee, another Revolutionary War general, is largely remembered. He was born in 1731 and served in the French-Indian Wars before being transferred in 1773 to the American colonies. He resigned to join the Continental Army and changed his allegiance to the Americans, where he quickly advanced through the ranks. He was regarded as the most experienced commander in the Continental Army before the beginning of the Revolutionary War, and he essentially saved it during the 1776 New York Campaign when he persuaded Washington to withdraw from a hopeless situation.

Lee was developing a reputation for being unpredictable even before the war. Adams referred to him as a "strange creature." When Lee wrote Adams to frankly acknowledge that he preferred dogs to people, he was expressing an opinion that he couldn't help but support. He was apprehended by the British in 1777 while eluding the Continental Army to look for a sex worker. He had to be freed as part of a prisoner trade.

Lee was removed of command because, in contrast to the aforementioned Vanderbilt, he was particularly outspoken about his disdain for Washington's leadership qualities. He was so severely mentally impaired that he spent his final days in squalor with his dogs. He died in 1782, before the Revolutionary War was formally over, making it too early for future generations to honor him.

Although Lee was court-martialed before he could carry out his intentions, it was eventually discovered through private files that he had been plotting with British leadership to betray the Americans in a way similar to Benedict Arnold. So, it makes sense that despite providing crucial service to his country, he is one of the Revolutionary generals who is rarely mentioned.

Born: 6 February 1732 [O.S. 26 January 1731]Darnhall, Cheshire, England
Died: 2 October 1782 (aged 50)Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.