Richard Henry Lee was born on January 20, 1732, into a family long prominent in Virginia's history. He had private tutors at home and went on to Wakefield Academy in England. By the age of 26, he was already a justice of the peace in Westmoreland County and a member of the colony's legislature, the House of Burgesses. He established his reputation as a speechmaker second only to Patrick Henry, with whom he shared leadership of the "progressive" faction in the House and led the colony's vigorous opposition to new British tax measures after 1764.

Between 1766 and 1776, Lee developed a reputation throughout the colonies as the "Son of Liberty." In addition to writing protests against what he felt were unjust measures by England, Lee organized a boycott against stamps after their prices were raised. He also led an armed party against the local stamp distributor. Lee was one...