[Archived] Civil War Lecture Series-David Cox-October 15

“The Paradox of Robert E. Lee”

Lecture to be held October 15

The 2014-15 season of the Alexandria Civil War Sesquicentennial lecture series begins with a presentation entitled The Paradox of Robert E. Lee by noted author R. David Cox, who is also an adjunct instructor of liberal arts at Southern Virginia University.  Having decided in 1861 to side with Virginia rather than remain with the Union army he had served with distinction for thirty-six years, after four years of bitter conflict Lee went to Washington College to promote reconciliation.  In a forthcoming book, “Lee’s Faith,” Dr. Cox will explore these and other decisions in light of Lee’s religious convictions. 

Ordained in the Episcopal Church in 1972 in Connecticut, David Cox returned to Virginia in 1987 to become rector of R. E. Lee Memorial Church in Lexington. In 2000, he left that position to complete doctoral studies, for which he received fellowships at Harvard Divinity School and Virginia Theological Seminary. He then served congregations in northern Virginia, Richmond, and from 2006-12 St. Luke’s Church in Hot Springs. He now serves St. Luke’s Church in Hot Springs. He ran for Virginia’s House of Delegates in 2005 and for the state Senate in 2007. In 2008, he was elected to the Lexington City Council, serving a term that concluded in 2012. He also graduated from two programs of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia.

The lecture will be held on Wednesday, October 15, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. at the historic Lloyd House, 220 North Washington Street, Alexandria, Virginia.  Admission is free, and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.  There will be a short period for questions and light refreshments afterward.

This program will be the ninth lecture presentation sponsored by the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission, Alexandria American Civil War Sesquicentennial Sub-committee, and the Office of Historic Alexandria on the American Civil War.  For more information, please call 703.746.4554 or visit www.historicalexandria.org.