  thomas sim lee (october 29, 1745 â november 9, 1819) was an american planter and statesman of frederick county, maryland. although not a signatory to the declaration of independence, the articles of confederation or the us constitution, he was an important participant in the process of their creation. thomas sim lee was the second state governor of maryland, serving twice, from 1779 to 1783 and again from 1792 to 1794. thomas sim lee also served as a delegate of maryland in the congress of the confederation in 1783 and was a member of the house of delegates in 1787. he worked closely with many of the founding fathers and played himself an important part in the birth of his state and the nation. ==family== thomas sim lee was born in 1745 in upper marlboro, maryland. he was the son of thomas (died 1749) and christiana (sim) lee and descended from the "stratford" line of the lee family of virginia. richard lee i was his great-great-grandfather. his education was attained in the private schools of his native colony. on october 27, 1771, thomas sim lee married mary digges (1745â1805), whose father was a prominent maryland landowner. they had eight children; *ignatius lee (born 1772) *thomas lee (1774â1826) *william lee (1775â1845) *eliza lee (born c. 1777) *archibald lee (1778â1781) *archibald lee (1781â1839) *mary christian lee (born c. 1783) *elizabeth digges lee (1783â1862)&nbsp;â married outerbridge horsey in 1812.archives of maryland (biographical series): elizabeth digges horsey (1783-1862) (msa sc 3520-14927) * john lee (1788â1871) ==public life== during the revolutionary war, he backed the patriot cause, and organized a local militia in which he served as colonel. lee entered politics in 1777, serving as a member of the maryland legislature, a position he held two years. the maryland legislature elected lee governor in 1779. he was reelected in 1780 and 1781. during his first tenure, issues regarding the war effort were dealt with. he won wide praise for his logistical abilities as governor. lee consistently procured fresh troops and supplies for the continental army. george washington was lee's friend, and learning of the plan to pin down cornwallis, lee exerted all his energies to support the american troops. after completing his term, lee left office on november 22, 1782. he then served in the continental congress in 1783 and 1784, and was a member of the state convention that ratified the u.s. constitution in 1
1745_births 1819_deaths American_people_of_English_descent American_planters Continental_Congressmen_from_Maryland Federalist_Party_state_governors_of_the_United_States Governors_of_Maryland Lee_family_of_Virginia Maryland_Federalists Maryland_colonial_people People_from_Frederick_County,_Maryland People_from_Upper_Marlboro,_Maryland