John Carlyle (merchant): Difference between revisions

John Carlyle
John Carlyle
Born	6 February 1720; Carlisle, England, Great Britain
Died	October 1780 (aged 60)
Buried	Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Allegiance	Great Britain
Years of service	1755
Children	11

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John Carlyle (6 February 1720 – October 1780) was a Scottish merchant and landowner who emigrated to the British Colony of Virginia and became a leading social and political figure in Northern Virginia. He was a founding trustee and the first overseer of Alexandria, Virginia.

Early life

Born in Carlisle, Cumberland, England, Carlyle was the second surviving son of William Carlyle, an apothecary-surgeon, of a landed Scottish family from Dumfrieshire descended from the Lords Carlyle of Torthorwald and Rachel Murray of Murraythwaite, Dumfriesshire descendent of the Clan Murray, supporters of Robert the Bruce during First War of Scottish Independence.

Merchant

In the 1730s, John Carlyle trained as an apprentice to English merchant William Hicks in the port town of Whitehaven. Hicks was a ship owner and traded with British colonies, there Carlyle learned to do business in the Virginia Trade. Hicks sent him as his factor (agent) in America to work in Virginia in 1741. Merchant agents were required to remain single since they had to travel extensively. He stopped working with Hicks and started his own ventures after his marriage with Sarah.

Carlyle established himself as a merchant at Belhaven (original name of Alexandria), a settlement that had grown up around a tobacco warehouse on the bluff overlooking the Potomac River. Carlyle quickly met with financial success. The Hicks company did not allow their workers to get married, but that did not stop him, he married Sarah Fairfax in 1747 (she was cousin of Thomas Fairfax, one of the most influential families in Virginia).

He built his house between 1751 and 1753 in Alexandria, now is called Carlyle House. He also owned thousands of acres of land throughout Virginia, including three plantations. His business ventures included trading with England and the West Indies, retail operations in Alexandria, a foundry in the Shenandoah Valley, milling, and operation of a forge. He also undertook a number of civic and religious positions typical of a man of his status. Carlyle was owner of 4 ships, 3 of them capable of crossing the Atlantic to sell his products to France and Great Britain. The city of Belhaven was renamed to Alexandria, Virginia in 1779.

French and Indian War

On 26 January 1754, George Washington was appointed Colonel by Virginia's Lieutenant Governor Robert Dinwiddie, major and commissary of the Virginia forces in the French and Indian War. He was politically well-connected at the time and was friends with Colonel George Washington. John Carlyle was appointed Colonel in 1755.

When the French and native forces were stronger, Great Britain sent General Edward Braddock to fight their enemies. In 1755, Carlyle's house was the initial headquarters for Major-General Edward Braddock in Virginia during the French and Indian War. The Congress of Alexandria convened at the house, most likely in the dining room, and here Braddock decided to make an expedition to the French Fort Duquesne.

Braddock was urged not to undertake the expedition by Washington whom was then a volunteer aide-de-camp to Braddock. The expedition consisted in 1,300 British troops, they fought against 300 native warriors and some French troops, Battle of the Monongahela resulted in the death of 456 British troops and 422 British injured, Braddock was severely injured and died after the battle, he was buried in a secret location in order to protect his grave.

Morven

Around 1770, Caryle constructed a plantation house and summer residence in what is now Fairlington, Arlington, Virginia first called Torthorwald (after his family's ancestral home in Scotland) and later changed to Morven (a mythical land of the Gaels in an Ossian poem) which stood until 1942. He used this plantation as a stud farm and operated a grist mill on Four Mile Run above what is now Arlandria. Carlyle died in 1780 and is buried at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House in Alexandria.

Family

In 1747, he married Sarah Fairfax (daughter of William Fairfax whom was cousin of Thomas Fairfax, the larger land owner of Virginia), with whom he had 7 children, among them Sarah Fairfax Carlyle whom was born on January 4, 1757. Sarah Fairfax gave birth to her daughter Ann on 21 January 1761, but she died the following day. Sally got married when she was 17 years old, and Ann got married when she was 14 years old, but died three years later, in a birth related death.

John Carlyle married Sybil West (daughter of prominent Alexandrian Hugh West)^[1] with whom had four more children, among them George William Carlyle, whom was born on May 27, 1766. William Carlyle (John Carlyle father) died in 1774. In 1779, while George William Carlyle was at school was informed of the illness of his father and returned to the house, after his father death he volunteered for Virginian regiment led by William Washington and decided to join the revolution and died in 1781 at the Battle of Eutaw Springs.

Carlyle House

In 1751 or 1752, John Carlyle completed the construction of his house, the Carlyle House. They moved to the house on August 7, 1753. It is situated in the city's Old Town at 121 North Fairfax Street between Cameron and King Streets.

Heir

John Carlyle's only son to survive beyond childhood was George William Carlyle, born in 1766. He served in the cavalry (3rd Continental Light Dragoons under Lt. Col. William Washington, a cousin of George Washington) and was killed in South Carolina in the American Revolutionary War Battle of Eutaw Springs on 8 September 1781^[2] at age 15, less than one year after the death of his father. Had George William Carlyle lived, he would have been entitled to the dormant barony as Lord Carlyle, after the death of his first cousin Joseph Dacre Carlyle who died without a son in 1804.

Slavery

Carlyle owned slaves and used them in his household and his multiple business ventures. As many other slave owners at this time he had a paternalistic approach towards slaves, and considered them primarily as parts of his assets. He was also "active in importing, buying, selling and owning slaves", which was a common activity at that time.^[3]

In the media

Paper & Stone: The hidden history of John Carlyle, is a 30 minutes documentary about the life, history and recent discoveries of John Carlyle family. It was produced in 2005 by Robert Cole films & The Carlyle House Historic Park.

References

Notes

^ Carlyle, John F., ed. (March 2011). "The Personal and Family Correspondence of Col. John Carlyle of Alexandria, Virginia" (PDF). Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
^ Documentary History of the American Revolution, Vol. 3 by Robert W. Gibbes, 1853.
^ "History". Nova Parks. Retrieved 28 September 2021.

Bibliography

"About John Carlyle" at Carlyle House Historic Park website
https://www.novaparks.com/parks/carlyle-house-historic-park/history
Richard Henry Spencer. "The Carlyle Family." William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine. Vol.18, No.3. (January 1910). pp. 201–212.
Richard Henry Spencer. The Carlyle House and its Associations--Braddock's Headquarters--Here the Colonial Governors met in Council, April, 1755." William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine. Vol.18, No.1. (July 1909). pp. 1–17.

[1] Carlyle, John F., ed. (March 2011). "The Personal and Family Correspondence of Col. John Carlyle of Alexandria, Virginia" (PDF). Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. Retrieved 26 June 2023.

[2] Documentary History of the American Revolution, Vol. 3 by Robert W. Gibbes, 1853.

[3] "History". Nova Parks. Retrieved 28 September 2021.

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
-{{More footnotes needed|date=November 2020}}[[Image:John Carlyle.gif|thumb|John Carlyle of Alexandria]]
+{{More footnotes needed|date=November 2020}}
+{{Infobox military person
-'''John Carlyle''' (6 February 1720–October 1780) was a [[Scotland|Scottish]] [[merchant]] who emigrated to [[British Empire|British]] [[Colony of Virginia]] and became a leading landowner and social and political figure in [[Northern Virginia]].  He was a founding trustee and the first overseer of [[Alexandria, Virginia]].
+| name          = John Carlyle
+| image         = John Carlyle.gif
+| birth_date    = 6 February 1720
+| birth_place   = [[Carlisle]], [[England]], [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]]
+| death_date    = {{death date and age|1780|10| |1720|2|6|df=y}}
+| placeofburial = [[Alexandria, Virginia|Alexandria]], [[Virginia]], [[United States]]
+| allegiance    = [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]]
+| serviceyears  = 1755
+| children      = 11
+}}
+'''John Carlyle''' (6 February 1720 – October 1780) was a Scottish merchant and landowner who emigrated to the British [[Colony of Virginia]] and became a leading social and political figure in [[Northern Virginia]]. He was a founding trustee and the first overseer of [[Alexandria, Virginia]].
 ==Early life==
@@ Line 8: / Line 20: @@
 ==Merchant==
 [[File:Alexandria - Carlyle House.jpg|thumb|The Carlyle House built 1752.]]
-In 1730's John Carlyle trained as an apprentice to [[England|English]] merchant William Hicks in the port town of [[Whitehaven]]. Hicks was a ships owner and he trade with british colonies, there Carlyle learned to do business in the Virginia Trade. Hicks sent him as his  [[factor (agent)|factor]] (agent) in America to work in [[Colony of Virginia|Virginia]] in 1741. Merchant agents were required to remain single since they had to travel extensively. He stopped working with Hicks and started his own ventures after his marriage with Sarah.
+In the 1730s, John Carlyle trained as an apprentice to [[England|English]] merchant William Hicks in the port town of [[Whitehaven]]. Hicks was a ship owner and traded with British colonies, there Carlyle learned to do business in the Virginia Trade. Hicks sent him as his [[factor (agent)|factor]] (agent) in America to work in [[Colony of Virginia|Virginia]] in 1741. Merchant agents were required to remain single since they had to travel extensively. He stopped working with Hicks and started his own ventures after his marriage with Sarah.
-Carlyle established himself as a merchant at Belhaven (original name of Alexnadria), a settlement that had grown up around a [[tobacco]] [[warehouse]] on the bluff overlooking the [[Potomac River]]. Carlyle quickly met with financial success. The Hicks company it did not allowed their workers to get married, but that did not stop him, he married Sarah Fairfax in 1747 (she was cousin of [[Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron]], one of the most influential families in Virginia.
+Carlyle established himself as a merchant at Belhaven (original name of Alexandria), a settlement that had grown up around a [[tobacco]] [[warehouse]] on the bluff overlooking the [[Potomac River]]. Carlyle quickly met with financial success. The Hicks company did not allow their workers to get married, but that did not stop him, he married Sarah Fairfax in 1747 (she was cousin of [[Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron|Thomas Fairfax]], one of the most influential families in Virginia).
-He built his house between 1751 to 1753 in Alexandria, now is called [[Carlyle House]]. He also owned thousands of acres of land throughout Virginia, including three plantations. His business ventures included trading with England and the [[West Indies]], retail operations in Alexandria, a [[foundry]] in the [[Shenandoah Valley]], milling, and operation of a [[forge]].  He also undertook a number of civic and religious positions typical of a man of his status. Carlyle was owner of 4 ships, 3 of them capable of crossing the Atlantic to sell his products to [[France]] and Great Britain. The city of Belhaven was renamed to [[Alexandria, Virginia]] in 1779.
+He built his house between 1751 and 1753 in Alexandria, now is called [[Carlyle House]]. He also owned thousands of acres of land throughout Virginia, including three plantations. His business ventures included trading with England and the [[West Indies]], retail operations in Alexandria, a [[foundry]] in the [[Shenandoah Valley]], milling, and operation of a [[forge]]. He also undertook a number of civic and religious positions typical of a man of his status. Carlyle was owner of 4 ships, 3 of them capable of crossing the Atlantic to sell his products to [[France]] and Great Britain. The city of Belhaven was renamed to [[Alexandria, Virginia]] in 1779.
 ==French and Indian War==
-On 26 January 1754, [[George Washington]] was appointed Colonel by Virginia's Lieutenant Governor [[Robert Dinwiddie]], major and commissary of the Virginia forces in the [[French and Indian War]].  He was politically well-connected at the time and was friends with Colonel [[George Washington]]. John Carlyle was appointed Colonel in 1755.
+On 26 January 1754, [[George Washington]] was appointed Colonel by Virginia's Lieutenant Governor [[Robert Dinwiddie]], major and commissary of the Virginia forces in the [[French and Indian War]]. He was politically well-connected at the time and was friends with Colonel [[George Washington]]. John Carlyle was appointed Colonel in 1755.
-When the french and Indian forces were stronger Great Britain sent General [[Edward Braddock]] to fight their enemies. In 1755, Carlyle's house was the initial headquarters for Major-General [[Edward Braddock]] in Virginia during the French and Indian War. The [[Congress of Alexandria]] convened at the house, most likely in the dining room, and here Braddock decided to make an [[Braddock expedition|expedition]] to the french [[Fort Duquesne]].
+When the French and native forces were stronger, Great Britain sent General [[Edward Braddock]] to fight their enemies. In 1755, Carlyle's house was the initial headquarters for Major-General [[Edward Braddock]] in Virginia during the French and Indian War. The [[Congress of Alexandria]] convened at the house, most likely in the dining room, and here Braddock decided to make an [[Braddock expedition|expedition]] to the French [[Fort Duquesne]].
-Braddock was urged not to undertake the [[Braddock Expedition|expedition]] by Washington whom was then a volunteer ''[[aide-de-camp]]'' to Braddock. The expedition consisted in 1300 British troops, they fought against 300 Indian warriors and some french troops, [[Battle of the Monongahela]] resulted in the death of 456 British troops and 422 British injured, Braddock was severely injured and died after the battle, he was buried in a secret location in order to protect his grave.
+Braddock was urged not to undertake the [[Braddock Expedition|expedition]] by Washington whom was then a volunteer ''[[aide-de-camp]]'' to Braddock. The expedition consisted in 1,300 British troops, they fought against 300 native warriors and some French troops, [[Battle of the Monongahela]] resulted in the death of 456 British troops and 422 British injured, Braddock was severely injured and died after the battle, he was buried in a secret location in order to protect his grave.
 ==Morven==
 [[Image:Carlyle tomb.jpg|thumb|Tomb of John Carlyle]]
-Around 1770, Caryle constructed a plantation house and summer residence in what is now [[Fairlington, Arlington, Virginia]] first called Torthorwald (after his [[Torthorwald|family's ancestral home]] in Scotland) and later changed to Morven (a mythical land of the [[Gaels]] in an [[Ossian]] poem) which stood until 1942.  He used this plantation as a stud farm and operated a grist mill on [[Four Mile Run]] above what is now [[Arlandria, Virginia|Arlandria]]. Carlyle died in 1780 and is buried at the [[Old Presbyterian Meeting House]] in Alexandria.
+Around 1770, Caryle constructed a plantation house and summer residence in what is now [[Fairlington, Arlington, Virginia]] first called Torthorwald (after his [[Torthorwald|family's ancestral home]] in Scotland) and later changed to Morven (a mythical land of the [[Gaels]] in an [[Ossian]] poem) which stood until 1942. He used this plantation as a stud farm and operated a grist mill on [[Four Mile Run]] above what is now [[Arlandria, Virginia|Arlandria]]. Carlyle died in 1780 and is buried at the [[Old Presbyterian Meeting House]] in Alexandria.
 == Family ==
-In 1747 he married Sarah Fairfax (daughter of [[William Fairfax]] whom was cousin of [[Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron]], the larger land owner of Virginia), with whom he had 7 children, among them Sarah Fairfax Carlyle whom was born in January 4, 1757. Sarah Fairfax gave birth to her daughter Ann in 21 January 1761, but she died the following day. Sally got married when had 17 years old, and Ann got married when was 14 years old but died three years later in a birth related death.
+In 1747, he married Sarah Fairfax (daughter of [[William Fairfax]] whom was cousin of [[Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron|Thomas Fairfax]], the larger land owner of Virginia), with whom he had 7 children, among them Sarah Fairfax Carlyle whom was born on January 4, 1757. Sarah Fairfax gave birth to her daughter Ann on 21 January 1761, but she died the following day. Sally got married when she was 17 years old, and Ann got married when she was 14 years old, but died three years later, in a birth related death.
-John Carlyle married Sybil West (daughter of prominent Alexandrian Hugh West)<ref>https://www.novaparks.com/sites/default/files/John%20Carlyle%201720-1780%20Annotated%20Correspondence_0.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref> with whom had four more children, among them George William Carlyle, whom was born in May 27, 1766. William Carlyle (John Carlyle father) died in 1774. In 1779 while George William Carlyle was at school was informed of the illness of his father and returned to the house, after his father death he volunteered for virginian regiment let by [[Henry Lee III]] and decided to join the revolution and died in 1780.
+John Carlyle married Sybil West (daughter of prominent Alexandrian Hugh West)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.novaparks.com/sites/default/files/John%20Carlyle%201720-1780%20Annotated%20Correspondence_0.pdf |title=The Personal and Family Correspondence of Col. John Carlyle of Alexandria, Virginia |date=March 2011 |website=Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority |editor-first=John F. |editor-last=Carlyle |access-date=June 26, 2023 }}</ref> with whom had four more children, among them George William Carlyle, whom was born on May 27, 1766. William Carlyle (John Carlyle father) died in 1774. In 1779, while George William Carlyle was at school was informed of the illness of his father and returned to the house, after his father death he volunteered for Virginian regiment led by William Washington and decided to join the revolution and died in 1781 at the Battle of Eutaw Springs.
 ===Carlyle House===
 {{Main|Carlyle House}}
-[[File:2021 Carlyle House, 121 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria.jpg|thumb|alt=Carlile house]]
+[[File:2021 Carlyle House, 121 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria.jpg|thumb|alt=Carlile house|Carlyle House in 2021]]
-Between 1751 and 1752 John Carlyle completed the construction of his house, the [[Carlyle House]]. They moved to the house in August 7, 1753. It is situated in the city's [[Old Town Alexandria|Old Town]] at 121 North Fairfax Street between Cameron and [[King Street, Alexandria, Virginia|King Street]]s.
+In 1751 or 1752, John Carlyle completed the construction of his house, the [[Carlyle House]]. They moved to the house on August 7, 1753. It is situated in the city's [[Old Town Alexandria|Old Town]] at 121 North Fairfax Street between Cameron and [[King Street, Alexandria, Virginia|King Street]]s.
 ===Heir===
@@ Line 41: / Line 53: @@
 == Slavery ==
-The British colonists continued the tradition of [[Slavery in Britain]] and they expanded it with the [[Atlantic slave trade]]. Carlyle owned slaves and used them in his household and his multiple business ventures. As many other slave owners at this time he had a paternalistic approach towards slaves, and considered them primarily as parts of his assets. He was also  “active in importing, buying, selling and owning slave”, which was a common activity at that time.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History|url=https://www.novaparks.com/parks/carlyle-house-historic-park/history|access-date=2021-09-28|website=Nova Parks|language=en}}</ref>
+Carlyle owned slaves and used them in his household and his multiple business ventures. As many other slave owners at this time he had a paternalistic approach towards slaves, and considered them primarily as parts of his assets. He was also "active in importing, buying, selling and owning slaves", which was a common activity at that time.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History|url=https://www.novaparks.com/parks/carlyle-house-historic-park/history|access-date=2021-09-28|website=Nova Parks|language=en}}</ref>
 == In the media ==
@@ Line 58: / Line 70: @@
 '''Bibliography'''
-*[http://www.nvrpa.org/park/carlyle_house_historic_park/content/about_john_carlyle "About John Carlyle"] at Carlyle House Historic Park website
+*[http://www.nvrpa.org/parks/carlyle-house-historic-park/history "About John Carlyle"] at Carlyle House Historic Park website
 *https://www.novaparks.com/parks/carlyle-house-historic-park/history
 *Richard Henry Spencer. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/1915700 "The Carlyle Family."] ''William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine''. Vol.18, No.3. (January 1910). pp.&nbsp;201–212.
@@ Line 66: / Line 78: @@
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Carlyle, John}}
-[[Category:Virginia colonial people]]
+[[Category:Merchants from colonial Virginia]]
 [[Category:1720 births]]
 [[Category:1780 deaths]]
 [[Category:Businesspeople from Alexandria, Virginia]]
-[[Category:Scottish landowners]]
+[[Category:18th-century Scottish landowners]]
 [[Category:History of Alexandria, Virginia]]
 [[Category:Trustees of populated places in Virginia]]
-[[Category:Fairfax family]]
+[[Category:Scottish slave owners]]
 [[Category:Scottish emigrants to the Thirteen Colonies]]
+[[Category:Scottish slave traders]]
+[[Category:18th-century British slave traders]]

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