George Washington Custis Lee was born to Robert Edward Lee (19 January 1807-12 October 1870) and Mary Anna Randolph Custis (01 October 1808-05 November 1873) at Fortress Monroe, near Hampton Roads, Virginia on 16 September 1832. He was educated at private schools in Virginia before graduating first in his class from United States Military Academy in West Point, Orange County, New York in 1854. As 2^nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he was assigned to the Office of the Chief Engineer in Washington, D.C. Promoted to 1^st Lieutenant just prior to the war, he resigned on 02 May 1861, following the secession of Virginia and the resignation of his father.

     He entered Confederate service as Captain of Engineers and spent the early days of the war designing various fortifications around Richmond. On 31 August 1861, President Jefferson Davis (03 June 1808-06 December 1889) appointed "Custis" his Aide de Camp. A valuable part of Davis' staff, he was often sent to the front to assess defensive needs and deliver confidential dispatches to commanders. He was promoted to Brigadier General on 25 June 1863, and again to Major General on 20 October 1864. He also assisted Davis as a consultant on reorganizations of the armies.

     Unsure of his own abilities, he was reluctant to take a field command and Davis was also hesitant to lose him as an asset. Davis did extend him the opportunity to take charge of Department of Western Virginia in August 1864, but illness and doubt kept "Custis" from accepting the assignment. Confidence and health returned, he accepted division command under Lt. Gen. Richard Stoddert Ewell (08 February 1817-25 January 1872) on 18 January 1865. He took part in the remainder of the Petersburg Campaign (15 June 1864-02 April 1865) and the subsequent withdrawal toward Appomattox. After the Battle of Sayler's (Sailor's) Creek (06 April 1865), "Custis" was among forces surrounded by the Federals and captured.

     Following the war, he accepted a position teaching engineering at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. When his father died, he succeeded him as President of nearby Washington College (now Washington & Lee University) on 01 February 1871 and held the post until illness forced him to resign on 01 July 1897. He retired to Ravensworth, the former estate of his younger brother, William Henry Fitzhugh "Rooney" Lee (31 May 1837-15 October 1891), in Fairfax County, Virginia. He died there on 18 February 1913. "Custis" Lee is interred with his other famous family members in Lee Chapel at Washington & Lee University.