Arlington House / The Robert E. Lee Memorial

Arlington, VA

Robert E. Lee (b. January 19, 1807; d. October 12, 1870) was the son of Henry "Light-Horse Harry" Lee—a Revolutionary War hero—and is best known for his command of the Confederate Army during the Civil War. With his father’s military reputation preceding him, Lee graduated at the top of his class at West Point. He served in the military for many uneventful years. Then he earned his stripes in the Mexican-American War (1846). In 1861, President Lincoln offered Lee the position to command the Union army. But Lee could not turn his back on his native Virginia and instead became the general of the Confederate army. After the Confederate defeat, Lee retired from the military and returned to this Arlington, Virginia estate -- which belonged to his wife Mary Custis, a descendent of George Washington. He lived here with Mary and their seven children. Known as incredibly disciplined, organized and neat, Lee is credited with rebuilding and revamping much of the Arlington estate. It is now known as Arlington House and The Robert E. Lee Memorial.

Where else did Lee live?

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