Confederate General Robert E. Lee was a prominent military leader during the American Civil War. Born on January 19, 1807, in Stratford Hall, Virginia, he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served in the U.S. Army before the war. Lee became the commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, leading Confederate forces in several significant battles, including the Battle of Gettysburg. Lee was known for his tactical skills and leadership qualities, earning respect from both his troops and his adversaries. After the war, he became a symbol of the South and was appointed president of Washington College in Lexington, Virginia, where he worked to promote reconciliation between the North and South. He passed away on October 12, 1870.