Charles Carter (of Cleve)

Charles Carter (1707 – April 26, 1764) was a Virginia planter, politician and slave owner, 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.