Charles Carter

Charles Carter (1707 – April 26, 1764) was a Virginia planter and politician, one of four men of the same name who served in the Virginia General Assembly during the late 18th and early 19th century. One historian has distinguished him as "of Cleve", the name of the plantation he developed in King George County, Virginia, which he represented in the House of Burgesses for nearly three decades, from 1736 until his death in 1764. As discussed below, he may also be noteworthy as an early Virginia winemaker. His son, also Charles Carter, but known for much of his lifetime as Charles Carter Jr., served alongside his father in the House of Burgesses representing King George County, and continued to serve until financially embarrassed following the death of their political ally, powerful speaker John Robinson. However, the younger man survived the resulting scandal concerning loans made from currency scheduled to be burned, having bought property in Stafford County and represented that county for many years, despite the American Revolutionary War and ongoing financial problems. Early and family life Charles Carter was born to the former Elizabeth Landon Willis, the second wife of Robert Carter I, and likewise of the First Families of Virginia. His father was the richest man in Virginia in his lifetime, and so powerful based on his roles on the Governor's Council as well as land agent for the Northern Neck Proprietary and accumulated wealth that contemporaries nicknamed him "King Carter". The family included an elder half brother, John Carter (d. 1742), who succeeded his father on the Governor's Council and raised his half-siblings upon their father's death. He also had three full brothers: Robert Carter (who died four months before their father but was succeeded by his son Robert Carter III, whom this man helped raise and who would serve many years on the Governor's Council), Landon Carter and George Carter (who would die in London in 1742). Charles, Landon and George would all be educated in England, and both this man and Landon Carter in addition to operating their many plantations served in the House of Burgesses, as did Secretary John Carter's sons Charles Hill Carter and Edward Hill Carter.