Richard Lee II

Who was Richard Lee II?

Col. Richard Lee, II, was a Colonel, planter, member of the Upper House and the King's Council.

Richard, II, was termed "Richard the Scholar". Richard was the son of Col. Richard Lee I, "the Immigrant" and Anne Constable

Richard was born at "Paradise", in Northumberland County, Virginia, the estate he inherited from his father when he died in 1664. This estate consisted of 1,350 acres, and was later part of Gloucester County. He was educated at Oxford in England and may have studied law at the London Inns of Court. He seemed destined for a career in the church, but he elected rather to return to the life of a Virginia gentleman, residing at “Paradise”. In 1673, when his older brother John died unmarried, Richard inherited the estate, “Machodoc”. Richard left “Paradise” to overseers and removed to his new estate.

Richard married Laetitia Corbin, daughter of Richard’s neighbor and, Councillor, Hon. Henry Corbin, Sr. and Alice Burnham

Soon after his marriage, Richard was elected to the House of Burgesses. In 1676 Richard became a member of the King’s Council and he served in this capacity off and on until 1698.