Robert Edward Lee was a prominent American military officer best known for his role as a general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He was born on January 19, 1807, in Virginia and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Lee is often remembered for his tactical skills and leadership during the Civil War, particularly in battles such as the Second Battle of Bull Run and the Battle of Chancellorsville. After the war, he became a symbol of the Southern cause and is still a controversial figure in American history. Lee passed away on October 12, 1870, in Lexington, Virginia.