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Charles Lee

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Military Personnel

The Resume

    (February 6, 1732-October 2, 1782)
    Born in Cheshire, England, United Kingdom
    Served in the British Army during the Seven Years' War, the Polish Army during the Russo-Turkish War and the Continental Army during the American Revolution
    Captured by British cavalry under Banastre Tarleton (1776)
    Released by the British and rejoined the Continental Army (1778)
    Following the Battle of Monmouth, was court-martialed for disobeying orders and insubordination
    Convicted and relieved of command for one year
    Namesake for Fort Lee, New Jersey

Why he might be annoying:

    He was pompous and arrogant.
    While a captain in the British army, he referred to his commanding officer as 'our booby in chief.'
    He lost two fingers in a duel.
    He was pissed off at being passed over in favor of George Washington as Commander in Chief.
    While Washington's second in command, he wrote letters to other soldiers and politicians bitching about what a bad job Washington was doing and how much better he would do if he were in charge.
    He was captured by the British when he spent the night in a tavern three miles away from his army.
    While imprisoned by the British, he wrote up a plan for how they could defeat the Americans.
    During the Battle of Monmouth, he allegedly ignored Washington's orders to attack the British and instead retreated.
    Although he has defenders on the charges of disobeying orders during the battle, they pretty much concede that he was guilty of insubordination in his letters to Washington after.
    Ironically, Washington may have let the matter drop if Lee had not insisted on a court martial to clear his name.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He had the most experience of the candidates for Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, but was passed over partly because he had been born in England.
    Early in the Revolution, he commanded the successful defense of Charleston.
    He claimed that he did not order a retreat at Monmouth, but was directing the army to better terrain for fighting.
    Some historians have suggested that the lightness of his sentence compared to the seriousness of the charges is evidence that the officers who presided over the court-martial found Lee guilty primarily to avoid embarrassing Washington.
    He was fond of dogs, and usually owned half a dozen at a time.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 18 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 58 Votes: 77.59% Annoying