Lee was born in New York City in 1870. His father Charles Carroll Lee, was a Union Army surgeon in the American Civil War and later president of the Medical Society of New York County. He was a cousin of Robert E. Lee and a descendant of Richard Lee I and Charles Carroll of Carrollton.
Lee attended Harvard College where he was a member of the Harvard Crimson football team
He played college football at Harvard University and was a consensus selection at the halfback position on the 1889 College Football All-America Team. He was a consensus first-team selection at the halfback position for the 1889 College Football All-America Team. The following year, he led the 1890 Harvard Crimson football team to an undefeated 11–0 record.
Lee capped the 1890 season with a long touchdown run to give Harvard its first victory since 1876 in the Harvard–Yale football rivalry.
The New York Times described Lee"s touchdown run as "a brilliant open play" around the right end of the line. He set a world record in the low hurdles.
After receiving his Bachelor of Laws degree from Columbia, Lee practiced law with the New York firm of Anderson, Pendleton & Anderson. He was also an officer of Hecker Cereal Company, Southwestern Milling Company and Standard Milling Company.
Lee died in 1941 at the age of 71 while playing tennis at the Meadow Club in Southampton, New New York
Lee was also a member of Harvard"s track team, competing in the 220-yard dash, the quarter mile and the low hurdles. He continued to compete in track while he was a student at Columbia Law School and as a member of the New York Athletic Club.
