Discovering History with Ryan Cole

Rise and Fall of a Revolutionary Hero: The Tragic Life of Light-Horse Harry Lee

If you think the Founding Fathers were all boring old men in powdered wigs, you haven’t met Henry Lee III—better known to history as “Light-Horse Harry” Lee. While today he is best remembered as the father of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, Light-Horse Harry was once a powerhouse in his own right. He was a daring cavalry hero of the Revolutionary War, a protégé of George Washington, a close ally of Alexander Hamilton, and a bitter nemesis to Thomas Jefferson. As a fearless soldier, he helped America win its freedom; as a politician, he helped shape its brand-new government. Born into one of Virginia’s most elite families, the brilliant and talented Lee seemed destined for permanent greatness. Instead, a series of disastrous financial decisions bankrupted his family, landed him in a debtor’s prison, and forced him to spend his final years wandering the Caribbean in lonely exile. Join author Ryan Cole as he brings to life the tragic, compelling, and deeply important story of a forgotten American icon.

Ryan L. Cole is the author of The Last Adieu: Lafayette’s Triumphant Return, the Echoes of Revolution, and the Gratitude of the Republic and Light-Horse Harry Lee: Rise and Fall of a Revolutionary Hero. His writing has appeared in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, his presentations have been featured on C-SPAN, and he has spoken at historic venues including George Washington’s Mount Vernon and the Library of Congress.

This event is sponsored by the Washington County Library, is FREE and open to the public, and will be livestreamed/recorded on our YouTube Channel @CampusMartiusMuseum

Community event in Marietta, Mercer County, WV 45750.