Cavalier of the American Revolution: Light Horse Harry Lee's Military Career

Cavalier of the American Revolution: Light Horse Harry Lee's Military Career

From The Old World with Will Tanner by Will Tanner

August 8, 2026 · 57 min

About this episode

The episode explores the military career of Light Horse Harry Lee during the American Revolution and his contributions to the war effort.

This is the story of Light Horse Harry Lee, the dashing Cavalier of the American Revolution, and how he helped win the War for American Independence through his talented command of Lee's Legion. It is the tale of how he developed his skills as a horseman and leader in his Leesylvania estate, studied the Classics at Princeton and won renown as a scholar, built himself into a brilliant cavalier of a military leader, and won great morale-boosting victories at Spread Eagle Tavern and Paulus Hook before masterminding a strategy that defeated Lord Cornwallis in the South. He led with bravery, before quitting in pique over the jealousies of other officers and marrying Matilda Lee of Stratford Hall before the conclusion of the war. Listen ad-free here: https://www.theamericantribune.news/p/cavalier-of-the-american-revolution Henry Lee III was born in 1756 at Leesylvania in Virginia as the eldest son of Henry Lee II and Lucy Grymes. Raised among the Virginia gentry, he learned riding, command, and social confidence from family life, estate management, and contact with local political leaders. He entered Princeton in 1770, where John Witherspoon turned Nassau Hall into a rigorous center…

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Host: Will Tanner

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Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Princeton

Places: Leesylvania, Virginia, Spread Eagle Tavern, Paulus Hook

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