Richard Henry Lee (January 20, 1732 – June 19, 1794) was an American statesman fromVirginia best known for the motion in theSecond Continental Congress calling for the colonies" independence from Great Britain. He was a signatory to the Articles of Confederation and his famous resolution of June 1776 led to the United States Declaration of Independence, which Lee signed. He also served a one-year term as thePresident of the Congress of the Confederation, and was a United States Senator from Virginia from 1789 to 1792, serving during part of that time as the second President pro tempore of the upper house.He was a member of the Lee family, a historically influential family in Virginia politics.
