Thomas Sim Lee

Thomas Sim Lee (born October 29, 1745 in Upper Marlboro , Prince George's County , Province of Maryland , † November 9, 1819 in Frederick County , Maryland ) was an American politician and from 1779 to 1782 and from 1792 to 1794 governor of the State of Maryland.

Early years and political beginnings

Thomas Lee received his education at private schools in his home country. He came from the Blenheim branch of the well-known Lee family from Virginia . During the American War of Independence he built his own militia force, which he himself commanded as a colonel. From 1777 he was politically active as a member of the Federalist Party . That year, he became a member of the Maryland Governor's Advisory Board for two years. He was also involved in drawing up the Maryland Constitution.

Political career

In 1779 he was elected the new governor by his state's legislature. After two re-elections, he was able to remain in this office between November 12, 1779 and November 22, 1782. This period was overshadowed by the events of the American Revolutionary War. Lee gave his friend George Washington the logistical support he had requested. At the end of his last term, Lee became a member of the Continental Congress in 1783 . He declined to participate in the drafting of the US Constitution . In 1788, however, he was one of the Maryland delegates who ratified the constitution.

In 1792, Lee was re-elected governor of his state. Again, he managed to be re-elected twice. His second term as governor began on April 5, 1792 and ended on November 14, 1794. During this time, the militia was restructured. The governor took an active part in the suppression of the so-called whiskey rebellion that had flared up in parts of Pennsylvania and Maryland at the time .

Another résumé

After the end of his second tenure as governor, he rejected an election to the Maryland Senate as well as a renewed candidacy for governor in 1798. He retired to his estate "Needwood" in Frederick County, which he owned until his death Managed in 1819. With his wife Mary Digges he had eight children, including John Lee (1788-1871), who was to become a member of the US House of Representatives between 1823 and 1825 .

literature

• Robert Sobel, John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 2, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

• Thomas Lee in the National Governors Association (English)
• Thomas Sim Lee in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)
• Thomas Sim Lee in the database of Find a Grave (English)