Sydney Smith Lee

Sydney Smith Lee (September 2, 1802 – July 22, 1869) was an American naval officer and older brother to Robert E. Lee. He was the third child of Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee and Anne Hill Carter.

Life
Lee was born at Stratford Plantation, Westmoreland County, Virginia on September 2, 1802. At the age of 18 on December 30, 1820 he was appointed midshipman in the US Navy and 8 years later promoted to lieutenant on May 17, 1828. During the Mexican–American War, he was stationed at Veracruz. He was promoted to commander on June 4. 1850 and accompanied Commodore Perry to Japan in 1853, commanding his flagship.

He served as commandant at the US Naval Academy and Philadelphia Navy Yard. He resigned from the service on April 17, 1861, the day Virginia seceded though the resignation was not accepted. After dismissal on April 22, 1861 he accepted a commission as commander in the Confederate States Navy.

When the US Navy abandoned the Gosport Navy Yard in Norfolk, Virginia, Sydney became the commander there. When Union forces regained it, Sydney was put in charge of batteries at Drewry's Bluffs, Virginia. On May 6, 1864, he became chief of the Confederate Navy's Bureau of Orders and Detail, replacing Captain John K. Mitchell. Sidney was promoted to captain, and remained at this post until the end of the war.

Sydney Smith Lee died at Richlands, Virginia, on July 22, 1869. His wife was Anne Marie Mason of Virginia. One of their sons was Fitzhugh Lee a Confederate major general, governor of Virginia, and a major general of volunteers during the Spanish American War.