Ezra Lee
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LEE, Ezra, soldier, born in Lyme, Connecticut, in 1749; died there, 29 October, 1821 at 72 years of age and is buried in the Duck River Cemetery in modern day Old Lyme, Conn. In August, 1776. he was selected by brother-in-law Brig. General Samuel H. Parsons also of Lyme, with the approval of General George Washington, for the hazardous enterprise of affixing to the British ship HMS Eagle, then lying in New York harbor, an infernal machine called the "Marine Turtle," the invention of David Bushnell of neighboring Saybrook, Connecticut. The attempt was only partially successful, owing to the thickness of the ship's copper sheathing, but Lee landed safely after remaining several hours in the water, and received the congratulations of Washington, who afterward employed him on secret service. Lee made a similar attempt a short time afterward with Bushnell's machine and endeavored to destroy a British frigate that lay opposite Bloomingdale, New York, but was discovered and compelled to abandon the enterprise, he subsequently participated in the battles of Trenton, Brandywine, and Monmouth. He had his sword handle shot off and received many bullet holes in his coat at Brandywine.(Edited Appletons Encyclopedia & A Lyme Miscellany- Willauer & Wesleyan University Press 1976)
Lee a decendent of the Thomas Lee family of Lyme (modern day Niantic) called on Benjamin Franklin who cleverly hit upon the idea of using bioluminescent foxfire to provide illumination for the compass and depth meter.
In 1777 Lee used the “Turtle” again in an attempt to destroy the British frigate “HMS Cerberus”, anchored in Niantic Bay, the explosion was said to have killed several sailors but did not do much major damage to the ship. (© 1975 - 1981 by David Wallechinsky & Irving Wallace) & (East Lyme Historical Society).
After these fetes Lee was congratulated by George Washington and General Israel Putnam (Connecticut) and moved into the secret service/special forces. Lee's tombstone is the only one that mentions "in service to Gen.George Washington" of all those who fought in the American Revolution.
