After all these years of studying history, how did I not know that this was Richard Henry Lee's brother, and the two of them served together in Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence?
Richard went to England to study, but their father died before Francis had the opportunity to study abroad. He studied at home with the Scotch clergyman Reverend Doctor Craig.
Upon his brother's return, Francis emulated him. It doesn't sound like there was any jealousy, and Francis certainly acquitted himself admirably.
Here was another man who didn't wish to remain in the limelight of public service, but the people elected him to the job. He served with honor until he retired to what he preferred, agriculture.
Oh that we had such men now who served the public because of duty and returned happily to doing what they did before, making money off of their own labor rather than off the taxation of the people they supposedly declare they serve or wheeling and dealing in manner anyone else would go to prison for doing.
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