Background
Lee was born in Camden, New Jersey on September 2, 1802.
Lee was born in Camden, New Jersey on September 2, 1802.
He was the third child of Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee and Anne Hill Carter. At the age of 18 on December 30, 1820 he was appointed midshipman in the United States 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 United States. Naval Academy and Philadelphia Navy Yard. He resigned from the service on April 17, 1861, the day Virginia declared it had 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 United States. 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. Lee died at Richlands, Virginia, on July 22, 1869.