On October 12th 1870 Robert Edward Lee, better known as Robert E. Lee, died in Lexington, Virginia, from pneumonia after suffering a stroke two weeks prior.

During the American Civil War, Lee commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, despite any personal feelings he may have held, as he felt that the war was a revolution and a betrayal of the country's founders.. Letters written by Lee showed that he was opposed to armed conflict between North and South, and favoured peaceful means. He was initially offered high ranking positions with the Union forces, before finally accepting a position with the Confederacy, as he felt he could not turn his back on his home state.

The Arlington National Cemetery is in the grounds of Lee's former house in Virginia, and the mansion is now a National Memorial to Lee.

Image Source: Public Domain via Wikicommons (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Robert_Edward_Lee.jpg)