Robert E. Lee (historical figure)

Robert E. Lee was a renowned American military leader best known for commanding the Confederate Army during the Civil War (1861–1865). Born in 1807, he was a respected West Point graduate and an officer in the U.S. Army. Lee chose to fight for the Confederacy after Virginia seceded, despite personal opposition to slavery. He was admired for his strategic skill and leadership, but his association with the Confederacy symbolizes the complex history of the Civil War. After surrendering in 1865, he became a symbol of Southern heritage and later advocated for reconciliation.