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Robert E. Lee was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He was the son of Henry ("Light-Horse Harry") Lee, and Ann Hill Carter Lee. His father was a hero of the American Revolution and a friend of George Washington. -
Robert marries Mary Custis at Arlington, who was the great-granddaughter of Martha Washington. The Lees then have seven children during their marriage. -
Lee served on the staff of General Winfield Scott during the Mexican American War, where he eventually got promoted to Colonel. -
Lee became superintendent of the U.S. Military academy at West Point. He then began to strengthen the academic program and improve the facility. -
Lee became in charge of putting down John Brown's raid which was an uprising on Harpers Ferry. -
Lee Resigns from the Army and decides to join the Confederate Army, where he became promoted to general. -
Lee accepted a position as the President of Washington and Lee University in Lexington Virginia. -
Lee surrendered to the Army of Northern Virginia, which caused the Civil War to begin drawing to an end. -
Lee suffered from a stroke on September 28th and then died two weeks later, probably because of his various physical ailments during his postwar years. He died at age 63, in Lexington Virginia.