LEE, Thomas, statesman, born in Charleston, South Carolina, 1 December, 1769; died there, 24 October, 1839. His father was one of the Charleston patriots that were sent to St. Augustine by Sir Henry Clinton. Thomas was admitted to the bar in 1790. soon rose to eminence, was clerk of the South Carolina house of representatives in 1798-1804, at the latter date was elected an associate judge, and on his resignation a few months subsequently became controller-general of the state, holding office till 1816. He was president of the state of South Carolina bank from 1817 till his death, served several terms in the legislature, and in 1823 was appointed by President Monroe United States district judge, holding office during the remainder of his life. He was active in the temperance reform and in benevolent enterprises.--His niece, Mary Elizabeth, author, born in Charleston, South Carolina, 23 March, 1813; died there, 23 September, 1849, early manifested literary tastes, was a zealous student, and possessed a remarkable talent for the acquisition of languages. Her prose writings have not been collected, but "Historical Tales for Youth," published in the "Massachusetts School Library," is from her pen. "The Blind Negro Communicant" is the best known of her poems. A volume of her verses, with a memoir of her by Reverend Samuel Gilman, was published after her death (Charleston, 1851).