A Founding Father who Freed His Slaves

Robert Carter

Colonel Robert “Councillor” Carter, III (born c. 1727 - died 1804) a.k.a. "Citizen" Robert Carter, a.k.a. "King" Carter

Robert Carter was an American plantation owner, founding father and onetime British government official who, after the death of his wife 1787, embraced the Swedenborgian faith and released more than 500 slaves from his estate—which included Nomony Hall plantation and his very large house in Williamsburg, Virginia.

He was born and raised in Virginia Colony and as a young man inherited a very large estate there including over 100 slaves. Raised in the Church of England, he converted to the Baptist faith and then eventually to Swedenborgianism. From Baptist and Swedenborgian principles and influences he came to the conclusion that human slavery was immoral.

Accordingly, he instituted a program of gradual manumission of all the slaves attached to his estate, which continued after his death. The program was designed to be gradual so as to lessen the resistance of white neighbors. Frequently, Carter rented land to recently freed slaves, sometimes evicting previous white tennants.

He was appointed to the Virginia Council by King George II and then reappointed by King George III. Later, despite expressing support of the crown after George III's repeal of the Stamp Act 1765, he resigned as Councillor and eventually supported the American cause in the Revolution.

Toward the end of his life, he moved from Virginia to Baltimore, Maryland, in part to get away from family and neighbors who looked askance upon his Swedenborgian faith and upon his program of manumission.