Robert E. Lee

Supreme commander of the Confederacy in the American Civil War, who surrendered at Appomattox.

Life

Distinguished Virginia family

Lee came from a prominent Virginia family, graduated from West Point, fought in the Mexican-American War and was regarded as one of the finest officers in the U.S. Army. When the American Civil War broke out, the Lincoln administration considered giving him command of the Union forces, but he chose to follow Virginia into the Confederacy.

Army of Northern Virginia

From 1862 he commanded the Army of Northern Virginia and repeatedly defeated larger forces, but both of his advances north failed, and in 1863 he suffered a crushing defeat at Gettysburg. In 1865, after his army was besieged at Petersburg, its breakout failed, and on April 9 he surrendered to Grant at Appomattox.

Appomattox

After the war he served as president of Washington College and died in 1870.

Legacy

Lee was long regarded in the South as a tragic hero; but he fought for a Confederacy dedicated to preserving slavery, many of his statues across the United States have been removed in recent years, and opinions of him are deeply divided.

Did you know? At the surrender he wore his finest uniform, while Grant wore a mud-spattered private's coat.

Key dates

• 1862Commanded the Army of Northern Virginia
• 1863Defeated at Gettysburg
• 1865Surrendered at Appomattox
• 1870Died