Charles Lee

Charles Henry Lee (1731 – 1782) was a British soldier and veteran of the Seven Years' War, as well as a member of the Templar Order. After his induction into the Order, Lee took a position as Haytham Kenway's second-in-command, and it was in this role that he later joined the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War as a General.
Throughout the Revolution, Lee competed against his political rival and superior, Commander George Washington, with the ultimate aim of taking control of the Patriot leadership and handing the newly formed nation over to his Templar brothers.
Following Haytham's death in 1781, Lee briefly became the Grand Master of the Colonial Templars, until his death in 1782 at the hands of Haytham's son, the Assassin Ratonhnhaké:ton.
==Biography==
===Early life===
Charles Lee was born to John Lee, a prominent British Colonel, and Isabella Bunbury, the daughter of a British Conservative politician. Due to his father's reputation and encouragement, Charles pursued a military career at a young age. He was sent to a military academy in Switzerland, and by 1746, he had joined his father's regiment as an ensign. Five years later, in 1751, Lee returned to England and was commissioned to the rank of lieutenant.Assassin's Creed III – Database: Charles Lee
In 1754, Lee was sent to the British colonies in America to serve under General Edward Braddock, to fight in the French and Indian War. At some point, he learned of and became affiliated with the Templar Order, of which Braddock was a member, and was keen to become a fully-fledged member. In response, Lee was given instructions by Reginald Birch, the Templar leader in Great Britain, to assist Haytham Kenway in his search for the Grand Temple, believed to be a hidden First Civilization storehouse.Assassin's Creed III – Welcome to Boston
===Meeting Haytham Kenway===
Upon Haytham's arrival in Boston, Lee met the Grand Master at the docks and led him to the Green Dragon Tavern, where Haytham's fellow Templar, William Johnson, was residing.
After a brief conversation with Johnson, Lee and Haytham set out to meet with Thomas Hickey, who was scouting a nearby bandit compound in an attempt to retrieve some of Johnson's stolen research. The three proceeded to raid the compound and accomplished their aims.Assassin's Creed III – Johnson's Errand
Shortly thereafter, Lee and Haytham searched for Benjamin Church, who had recently been detained by a British officer named Silas Thatcher. After searching Church's ransacked home and eavesdropping on several guards and eyewitnesses, Lee and Haytham deduced Church's location and headed to the docks, where Church was being held prisoner inside a warehouse. After Haytham managed to pickpocket a key to the warehouse from a nearby guard, he and Lee rescued Church from being tortured and brought him to the Green Dragon.Assassin's Creed III – The Surgeon
A few days later, Lee and Haytham went to gather their final recruit, John Pitcairn, from General Braddock's encampment at Copp's Hill Battery. However, despite Braddock also being a Templar, Lee noted that and he and Haytham were clearly at odds. Furthermore, the general was already angered by his superiors' orders to let Lee assist Haytham, which led him to deny their request to release Pitcairn from service.Assassin's Creed III – The Soldier
In a plan to retrieve Pitcairn, Lee followed Braddock's entourage as they marched around Boston and pretended to be a citizen angry at the British Regulars, provoking Braddock into a chase by throwing horse manure on him. Once he had Braddock on his tail, Lee lured the general and his men to a back alley, where they were ambushed by Haytham. After defeating Braddock's men, Haytham briefly threatened the general before he and Lee left with Pitcairn.
With all of the Templar recruits assembled at the Green Dragon, Haytham proposed a plan to infiltrate Southgate Fort and kill Silas Thatcher, the notorious slaver who had kidnapped Church, to gain favor with the local Kanien'kehá:ka. Haytham reasoned that by doing so, the Kanien'kehá:ka would be willing to provide information that could lead them to the Grand Temple.Assassin's Creed III – Infiltrating Southgate
After ambushing a slave cart transport destined for the fort, Lee and the others disguised themselves as British Regulars and led the convoy into the fort. Inside, Haytham stealthily freed the slaves while Lee and the others blended with and distracted the guards. However, upon realizing that the slaves had escaped, Silas raised the alarm. Lee and the others then fought and distracted the garrison, fending off Silas' troops while Haytham and Church killed the slaver, allowing them to free the remaining detainees.
===Induction into the Templar Order===
After several weeks, Haytham decided to make contact with a Kanien'kehá:ka woman, Kaniehtí:io, who could prove to be a valuable ally in the search for the Grand Temple. Lee was able to find a lead, informing Haytham that she had been seen in the wilderness near Lexington. However, Lee left shortly after beginning the search, explaining that he had to return to his commission under Braddock.Assassin's Creed III – Unconvinced During this time, Lee became well known among the Kanien'kehá:ka, who gave him the name Ounewaterika, meaning "Boiling Water".Assassin's Creed III – Broken Trust
Months later, in July 1755, Lee returned to Lexington to aid Haytham in his plan to kill General Braddock. In doing so, Haytham hoped to win Kaniehtí:io's trust so that she would lead him to the Grand Temple. Lee assisted by taking part in Braddock's expedition. When the expedition was ambushed by the French Army, Lee fired the first shot, killing the French Commander . In the ensuing chaos of the attack, Haytham chased and mortally wounded Braddock.Assassin's Creed III – The Braddock Expedition
Haytham returned to the Green Tavern days later, revealing that the site Kaniehtí:io had shown him contained nothing of interest and disregarding it as merely a painted cave. He then changed their goal to establishing a permanent base in order to expand Templar influence in the colonies. Commending Lee for his dedication and loyalty, Haytham decided to formally induct him into the Templar Order, placing a Templar ring on his finger that had previously belonged to Braddock.
A few weeks later, Lee met with Haytham to deliver a letter from Jim Holden and to confirm that Braddock had died from the injuries the Grand Master had inflicted on him. He also revealed that the other Templars intended to continue the search for the Grand Temple, but Haytham ordered them not to do so, believing that they should focus on more practical pursuits.Assassin's Creed: Forsaken
===Fighting in the French and Indian War===
Following his induction, Lee continued to serve in the British Army; he participated in several battles during the French and Indian War, such as the battles at the forts of Ticonderoga and , and the British conquest of Montreal.
In 1758, following the death of Colonel George Monro at the hands of the Assassins, Lee traveled to New York to attend the induction of Monro's replacement, the former Assassin Shay Cormac, into the Templar Order.Assassin's Creed: Rogue – Scars
In November 1760, Lee and his fellow Templars, with the exception of Haytham and Pitcairn, sought to meet with the elders of the local Kanien'kehá:ka tribe in Kanatahséton as part of their continued efforts to locate the Grand Temple, despite Haytham's orders to discontinue the search.Assassin's Creed III – Hide and Seek
En route, Lee encountered a young boy in the forest and forcibly demanded the location of his village, unaware that the child was Ratonhnhaké:ton, Haytham's son. Instead of answering, the boy defiantly asked for Lee's name, before warning him steadfastly that he would find him. Amused, Lee mocked the boy, saying that he would look forward to it, and left after Johnson had knocked the child out with the butt of his musket.
Soon after, Lee and the others gave up in their search and left. Shortly afterward, Kanatahséton was set ablaze by George Washington's forces, who suspected the villagers' allegiance to the French. After being unable to save his mother, Ratonhnhaké:ton mistakenly attributed the attack to the Templars and vowed revenge, especially against Lee.
Lee returned to England in late 1760 and was promoted to the rank of Major, where he fought in several campaigns in Portugal and Poland. Despite his service, Lee was not well paid, and so became a critic of several military and political figures in England. This backfired, however, and as a result, Lee was unable to advance his career as his payment did not improve, nor his chances for promotion.
===Joining the Continental Army===
Lee returned to America in 1770, rejoining his Templar brothers. Along with Haytham, Lee instigated the Boston Massacre by firing his pistol into the air, alarming the guards and causing them to open fire against the protesting citizens. Although he was spotted by Ratonhnhaké:ton - by now a budding Assassin - Lee was able to evade detection.Assassin's Creed III – A Trip to Boston
By 1773, the colonists had started to rebel against British rule, en masse. Beginning with the Boston Tea Party, the colony's citizens – aided by Ratonhnhaké:ton – dumped a large supply of British tea, owned by William Johnson, into the water of Boston's port as a show of defiance towards the tax laws. As a result, the Templars' found themselves unable to smuggle the tea, cutting off one of their main sources of funding. This act was the first, of many, which would eventually lead to the outbreak of war between the British Crown and her colonies.Assassin's Creed III – The Tea Party
On 12 January 1774, Lee attended a Templar meeting at the Restless Ghost tavern in Boston, where the Colonial Rite discussed how they could turn the nascent American Revolution into something to benefit their goals. It was here that Lee informed Haytham of the circumstances surrounding Kaniehtí:io's death in 1760, which the Templars had collectively decided to keep hidden due to their unsanctioned search for the Grand Temple. Lee also spoke of his encounter with a young Ratonhnhaké:ton, and noted the boy's resemblance to the Assassin who was now sabotaging their plans.
In 1775, in response to the recent events, Lee resigned his commission from the British Army and joined the Continentals. He quickly established himself as a strong supporter of the Patriots and became a likely candidate for the position of Commander-in-Chief, alongside George Washington.Assassin's Creed III – Conflict Looms
However, Lee's demand to be well compensated, which contrasted against Washington's selfless and modest insistence for little payment, saw him fall from favor for the position. As a result, Washington was chosen by the Continental Congress to lead the Continental Army.
Despite this, Lee was still promoted to the rank of General and served directly under Washington. Lee also attended Washington's acceptance speech and watched with contempt and criticism. It was at this moment that Lee met a man named Connor, in actuality the self-same child he had assaulted over a decade before, but did not recognize him and merely dismissed him as Samuel Adams' lapdog.
===Plotting Washington's assassination===
In 1776, the Templars tasked Thomas Hickey with the murder of Washington, in order to secure Lee the promotion to Commander-in-Chief. Unfortunately for them, Hickey was intercepted by Connor, and was soon arrested for counterfeiting and treason, alongside the Assassin.Assassin's Creed III – Something on the Side
On receiving word of Hickey's shortcomings, Lee and Haytham visited him in Bridewell Prison, where they reprimanded him for his recklessness and informed him that he could not be pardoned due the investigations against him by Benjamin Tallmadge. Upon realizing that Connor, the Assassin, was also locked up in a cell next to Hickey's, Lee formulated a new plan.Assassin's Creed III – Bridewell Prison
Connor was later able to steal the prison warden's key and went to kill Hickey in his cell, only to find the murdered body of the warden. There, he was ambushed by both Hickey and Lee, who held him at gunpoint. At that moment, the two Templars revealed their plan to frame Connor for the warden's murder and the assassination plot against Washington, so that he would be tried and executed.
Lee justified his and the Templars' actions to Connor by slandering Washington, citing his poor military record and calling him unfit for leadership. Connor attempted to attack Lee, but was pinned down due to exhaustion. It was at that moment that Lee finally recognized Connor as the boy from the forest, to which the Assassin reminded Lee of his vow to find him. Lee then choked and rendered Connor unconscious.
The following day, the Templars implemented Lee's plan, which would not only have removed the threat of the Assassin, but also created the perfect opportunity to murder Washington, who would personally attend the execution. After Lee and Haytham were able to speed up the process by omitting Connor's trial, the Assassin was taken to be publicly hanged before the assembled crowd in New York.Assassin's Creed III – Public Execution
Hickey escorted Connor to the gallows, with Lee presiding to announce his crimes against Washington and the colonies, before sentencing him to death. However, Connor was saved in part by Achilles Davenport and his Assassin recruits, and also through the intervention of Haytham, who had recently discovered his familial link to the Assassin. In the resulting confusion, Lee escaped while Hickey made a desperate attempt to kill Washington; he failed and was assassinated by Connor, proving the latter's innocence.
Lee continued serving under Washington, biding his time and secretly undermining Washington's orders and authority. Washington failed in his campaign to keep New York for the Patriots, and because of this, he ordered the evacuation of his forces as the British Army retook control of the city.
However, Lee intentionally delayed the retreat and allowed himself to be by the British.Assassin's Creed: Nexus VR – Database: William Barton, a daring man Consequently, Lee was imprisoned, but since he formally resigned his commission in the British Army rather than deserting, Lee was treated with civility and given comfortable accommodations and fine dining. Lee then took this opportunity to give the British information regarding the Continental Army, hoping it would lead to further weaken and disgrace Washington in battle.
===Battle of Monmouth===
On his release from prison, Lee returned to Congress, where he attempted to convince them that the Continental Army was not strong enough to match the British forces. Nonetheless, Washington prepared his armies in Valley Forge to stop the British march from Philadelphia to New York in 1778. Washington also ordered the extermination of the Kanatahséton village, Connor's home, due to his suspicions of them allying with the British.
Lee took advantage of this situation by traveling to Kanatahséton, where he met with Kanen'tó:kon and several others, and convinced them to join the war against the Continental Army in order to protect their land. He also manipulated Kanen'tó:kon into believing that Connor had betrayed the village by allying himself with Washington.
Following this, Lee took control of Marquis de Lafayette's contingency forces at Monmouth and ordered a full retreat, while abandoning his post, leaving them unprepared against the advancing British forces. However, Connor arrived in time to help hold off the British Army and secured the Patriots' retreat, saving many lives of the Continental Army and sparing Washington a devastating defeat.Assassin's Creed III – Battle of Monmouth
Prompted by Lee's behavior, Connor and Lafayette revealed Lee's treachery to Washington. As a result, Washington investigated, leading to Lee's court martial for insubordinate behavior and poor command decisions. Lee was disgraced, though he was spared execution and was instead temporarily suspended from duty.
===Becoming Grand Master===
By September 1781, both Haytham and Lee knew that Connor sought the latter's death. Fearing for his life, Lee resided in the Templar-controlled Fort George, in the military district of New York. Knowing that Connor could strike at any moment, Haytham visited Lee and encouraged him to leave, informing him that Connor was his son and, thus, his responsibility to deal with.
Shocked by this revelation, Lee lashed out at Haytham, accusing him of creating the Assassin. The Grand Master was hurt by his words and told Lee that he was equally responsible, as it was his assault on the boy two decades prior that had resulted in Connor's vendetta against the Templars. Admitting his mistake, Lee refused to leave Haytham's side, but the latter urged him to escape so that he may continue the Order's work. Lee begrudgingly agreed, apologized to Haytham for ever doubting him, and left after being given Haytham's amulet for safekeeping.
Soon after, just as Haytham had anticipated, Connor infiltrated the military district to assassinate Lee, but was only met by his father. Though neither was eager to kill the other, Connor ultimately prevailed and ended Haytham's life after a prolonged battle.Assassin's Creed III – Lee's Last Stand Lee soon learned of this and ascended to the rank of Grand Master, in Haytham's place, over what was left of the Colonial Templars.Assassin's Creed III – Laid to Rest
Months later, in 1782, Lee presided over Haytham's funeral in New York and delivered an eulogy in his honor. Connor appeared from the crowd and approached Lee, though he was restrained by guards. Enraged by Connor's constant interference in his plans and the murder of his comrades, Lee vowed revenge, promising not only to kill him, but to also murder everyone and destroy everything that Connor loved and held dear.
Connor brushed off Lee's threats, warning him that he would fail, and die with the rest of his plans. As the guards carried Connor away, Lee decided to gather an army and recuperate his power. To this end, he recruited the captain of the HMS Jersey and many mercenaries to his cause. After leaving for Boston, Lee learned that Connor had escaped, to which he decided to flee and return to England for safety.
===Death===
Connor intercepted Lee at Boston pier, leading to a chase through the dockyards. Lee attempted to lose the Assassin by running through a ferry under construction, during which an accident caused the ferry to catch fire. After a dangerous pursuit, both Lee and Connor crashed through a collapsed floor, with Connor impaling himself on a wooden splinter through his abdomen.Assassin's Creed III – Chasing Lee
Lee approached Connor, looking down on him, before asking why the Assassins fought an endless and futile cause against the Templars. After responding that he had to because no else would, Connor pulled out his pistol and, catching Lee off guard, shot him in the stomach. Though injured, the Templar managed to escape, taking a ferry up the Charles River to Monmouth, where he rested at the Last Drink tavern.
Connor once again followed Lee and eventually caught up with him, though neither were in any condition to fight. Lee silently offered his drink to the Assassin, who accepted, also without saying a word. Welcoming his end, Lee gave Connor a slight nod, and the Assassin proceeded to stab him in the heart. After Connor took the amulet from around Lee's neck, the Templar fell forward against the table and finally passed away.
===Legacy===
While trapped in an alternate reality shown by an Apple of Eden, Connor found a Lucid Memory Fragment depicting Lee's death in the primary reality, within the burnt remains of the Last Drink tavern.Assassin's Creed III – The Tyranny of King Washington: The Infamy
In 2015, the Templar Isabelle Ardant included Lee's name on a list of known British Templars. This list was later unveiled by the Assassins Rebecca Crane and Shaun Hastings when they infiltrated Ardant's office to plant a bug.Assassin's Creed: Syndicate – Modern day
==Personality and traits==
Charles Lee, throughout most of his life, was a veteran warrior and commander from years of military service in the French and Indian War and, later, the American Revolutionary War. In his youth, Lee was dedicated, enthusiastic and keen. To this, William Johnson commented that he was "a good lad, if a bit earnest."Assassin's Creed III
All of this changed as Lee rose through the Templar Order's ranks to become Haytham's second-in-command. Though on the outside Lee appeared as noble and honorable, in reality he was impulsive, violent and aggressive. In his pursuit to take control of the colonies for the Templars, he also became ruthless, vengeful and cruel. This was evident by his strong political motivations and demand for higher pay. 
Furthermore, Lee's arrogance manifested into violence and contempt for others. He had frustration for the Kanien'kehá:ka people for what he saw as being unaware of the threat the colonists posed, despite the Clan Mother's,Assassin's Creed III – Something to Remember Kanen'tó:kon's, and Connor's knowledge to the contrary.Assassin's Creed III – Feathers and Trees For this perceived failure, he considered them to be naïve and he also slandered and criticized Washington with passion.
Lee's cruel and vengeful side showed in his promise to Connor to destroy him utterly; he outright stated that he would kill everyone Connor held dear and those who were even remotely associated with him, including the innocent people who lived on the Davenport Homestead and his entire village. Despite this, after Connor had bested him, Lee seemed to develop some begrudging respect for the Assassin, silently offering him his drink and embracing his death at the Assassin's blade.
Despite his long, successful career and military prowess, Lee was unpopular and disfavored amongst the Patriots. This was clear by how the Congress viewed him: vulgar and slovenly in appearance and attitude, as well as greedy. As a result, Lee constantly plotted and competed against Washington to seize his command. However, Haytham had strong faith in Lee's ability, loyalty and understanding of the Templar vision for a New World Order.
In spite of his many flaws, Lee also had several redeeming qualities, which mainly showed in his relationship with Haytham. Prior to joining the Templars, Lee sought to impress the Grand Master in the hopes of gaining membership within the Order. Even after achieving this goal, Lee continued to serve Haytham diligently, as he was perhaps the only person Lee genuinely respected and looked up to.
After Haytham discovered that Connor was his son, Lee felt that the Grand Master's resolve had weakened and blamed the Order's downfall on his reluctance to take action against the Assassin. During their final conversation, Lee did not hesitate to voice these thoughts to Haytham, who in turn called out Lee for his reckless and violent behavior, which had resulted in Connor's vendetta against the Templars. Admitting his mistake, Lee refused to leave Haytham to die alone by the Assassin's blade, and only relented after much urging from the Grand Master. He also apologized for doubting Haytham's resolve and making him think that he was a bad Grand Master.
==Trivia==
;Assassin's Creed III
*The initial render of Charles Lee prior to the game's release showed him as an older-looking character. Additionally, some concept art shows him being accompanied by a dog, which is a reference to the real-life Lee's fondness of dogs.
*Charles Lee is the first major assassination target to die without sharing their final thoughts with their killer, neither in the Animus' Memory Corridor, nor at the moment of their death.
*Among the Kanien'kehá:ka, Lee was known as Ounewaterika, meaning "Boiling Water".
*In the Davenport Manor's basement, Ratonhnhaké:ton's memento from killing Lee was the Grand Temple Key, despite the fact that after Lee's death, the key was buried in Connor Davenport's grave.
;Assassin's Creed: Rogue
*A portrait of Charles Lee as he appeared in early concept art can be seen in the Finnegans' residence during the memory "The Color of Right". A similar portrait also appears in Isabelle Ardant's London office in Assassin's Creed: Syndicate.
*In the memory "Scars", Lee's older character model from Ratonhnhaké:ton's adulthood is used despite the memory being set before "Hide and Seek" in Assassin's Creed III where he appears in his younger character model.
==Behind the scenes==
Charles Lee is a historical character first introduced in Assassin's Creed III, where he was voiced by the American-Canadian actor Neil Napier.
Historically, Lee was only discharged from the Continental Army years after his retreat. On January 10, 1780, he was formally discharged and spent his remaining years reportedly verbally attacking Washington to anybody around, and as a result, was frequently challenged to duels by those loyal to Washington. In a duel with Colonel , Lee was heavily wounded in his side, but he continued to duel. Lee eventually retired to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he died of a fever on October 2, 1782.
==Gallery==
Early Charles Lee - Concept Art.jpg|Early concept art
AC3 Charles Lee Concept.jpg|Concept art
AC3 Charles Lee Concept Portrait.jpg|Concept art
ACIII-GI (12).jpg|Concept art of Lee choking Ratonhnhaké:ton
Charles Lee young.jpg|Finalized concept art
ACIII-BraddockExpedition 19.png|Lee wearing a Templar ring
Bridewell Prison 13.png|Lee and Hickey in Bridewell Prison
ACIII-Rest 2.png|Lee holding the Grand Temple key
ACIII-Chasinglee 12.png|Lee sharing a drink with Connor
==Appearances==
*Assassin's Creed III 
**The Tyranny of King Washington 
*Assassin's Creed: Forsaken
*Assassin's Creed: Initiates 
*Assassin's Creed: Memories
*Assassin's Creed: Rogue
*Assassin's Creed: Syndicate 
*Assassin's Creed: The Official Collection
*Assassin's Creed: Nexus VR 
==References==
de:Charles Lee
es:Charles Lee
fr:Charles Lee
he:צ'ארלס לי
hu:Charles Lee
it:Charles Lee
ja:チャールズ・リー
nl:Charles Lee
pl:Charles Lee
pt-br:Charles Lee
ru:Чарльз Ли
zh:查尔斯·李
Category:1732 births
Category:1782 deaths
Category:Individuals
Category:English people
Category:Planters
Category:Generals
Category:British Army personnel
Category:Patriots
Category:Continental Army
Category:Templars
Category:British Templars
Category:Colonial Templars
Category:Grand Masters
Category:Individuals who held Pieces of Eden