The John C. Pemberton Camp of Sons of Confederate Veterans celebrated the birthday of their ancestors’ commanding officer Monday with cake and remembrances of his achievements in education.

Robert E. Lee was born Jan. 19, 1807, and his birthday has been a longstanding Mississippi state holiday that is combined with the federal holiday honoring civil rights leader Martin Luther King. Jr.

Lee is typically revered for his gentlemanly attitude and swift cunning on the battlefield, but he was also in impeccable student, said Wayne McMaster, former state commander of Sons of Confederate Veterans.

The man who would lead the entirety of the Confederate Army graduated second in his class at West Point in 1829, a year after Warren County resident Jefferson Davis. Lee was second behind Charles Mason, who gave up military duty to read law. Mason eventually became the Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court.

“They were always neck and neck,” McMaster said. “Lee was always one point or so ahead or behind him.”

Lee particularly excelled in math and engineering and during his second year at the military academy, he served as a math professor.

As a top student, Lee was allowed to go home on furlough, McMaster said.

“Everyone was filled with admiration at his lovely manners,” McMaster said. “It’s hard for me to get that in my head that the man in charge of the army had lovely manners.”

After years of service in the U.S. Army, Lee became the superintendent of West Point in 1852, meaning that he would oversee the education of several classes of men who would fight on both sides of the Civil War. Some notable graduates from Lee’s time as superintendent include Howard University founder Oliver O. Howard and Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart.

After the war, Lee’s foray into education continued, as he became president of what is now Washington and Lee University in Virginia.

Lee’s presence and donations in his honor helped the school expand its offering to include journalism, commerce and law.

“We have but one rule here, and it is that every student be a gentleman,” Lee wrote of the university.

Lee’s birthday is also celebrated in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia and Texas where it is called Confederate Heroes Day. Florida removed Lee’s birthday from a list of approved holidays beginning in 2014.