How was Robert E. Lee related to George Washington’s family?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Robert E. Lee was connected to the family of George Washington through his marriage to Mary Anna Randolph Custis in 1831.1

Mary Anna Randolph Custis was the only daughter of George Washington Parke Custis, who was the grandson of Martha Washington. Through this union, Lee became part of the extended family of the first U.S. president, a figure he deeply admired and sought to emulate throughout his life. Additionally, Lee’s father, Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee, was a close friend of George Washington and famously authored a congressional eulogy for him.12