David Lee was born in Rye, New York, on January 20, 1931, the son of Marvin Lee and Annette (Franks) Lee. After earning a B.A. at Harvard University in 1952, Lee served in the U. S. Army until 1954. The following year, he completed his M.S. at the University of Connecticut. In 1959, having received his Ph.D. from Yale University, Lee joined the Department of Physics at Cornell University as an instructor; he was named professor of physics in Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences in 1968.

Low-temperature physics, Lee's field, explores the behavior of materials at very low temperatures, almost at absolute zero, the lowest temperature possible, 0 K (Kelvin), equalling -459.67°F (-273.15°C). Quantum mechanics, formulated in the context of quantum theory, and based on the concept of a particular quantity, or quantum, of energy needed to effect a change, enables scientists to explain phenomena, such as...