Carrington, Edward, 1748-1810

Variant names

Hide Profile

Edward Carrington (February 11, 1748 – October 28, 1810) was an American soldier and statesman from Virginia. During the American Revolutionary War he became a lieutenant colonel of artillery in the Continental Army. He distinguished himself as quartermaster general in General Nathanael Greene’s southern campaign. He commanded artillery at Monmouth and Yorktown. He was also present at Cowpens, Guilford Court House, and Hobkirk's Hill. During the war he became a close friend of George Washington. Carrington served in the 3rd Continental Congress and was the first US Marshal appointed from his state. He was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati.

Born at the Boston Hill Plantation in Goochland County in the Colony of Virginia (now part of Cumberland County), Carrington studied the law and opened a law practice. He also managed a plantation in southern Virginia. At the outbreak of the Revolution, Carrington joined the First Continental Artillery with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In 1780, he transferred to the Southern Army with the same rank, but with the new responsibility of quartermaster-general. During his service with the Army, Carrington saw action at Hobkirk's Hill and Yorktown. On one occasion, Washington appointed Carrington, Alexander Hamilton, and General St. Clair to meet with British representatives to discuss an exchange of prisoners. In 1781, the Commander-in-Chief put Carrington in charge of selling goods and property confiscated by the Continental Army.

During the war, Carrington became a friend and confidant of George Washington. Virginia sent Carrington as a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1786 to 1788. He often visited Washington at Mount Vernon during this period. After being elected president, Washington appointed Carrington as the first U.S. Marshal for Virginia, a position he held from 1789 until March 1791. He then served as Virginia's supervisor of the revenue from 1791 to 1794. The new president often sought Carrington's advice on political matters. During his second term, President Washington offered Carrington the posts of Attorney General and Secretary of War, which were declined. In 1798, President John Adams selected Carrington to be the quartermaster general for the United States Army during the Quasi-War with France, but the position was never filled and was eliminated when normal relations were restored. In 1807, Carrington was foreman of the jury during Aaron Burr's treason trial. His brother-in-law John Marshall was the presiding judge and Burr was acquitted.

Carrington died on October 28, 1810, at Richmond, Virginia. In 1775, while listening to Patrick Henry's famous "Give me liberty, or give me death!" speech while standing outside a window at St. John's Church where the speech was given, he turned to his friends and whispered, "Boys, bury me here, in this very spot!" Per his wishes, he is buried just outside that window.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Wayne family. Anthony Wayne family papers, 1681-1913. William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Nathanael Greene papers 1762-1852 1780-1785 Greene, Nathanael, papers William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Edward Carrington letters, 1791-1805 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn George Washington papers, 1592-1943 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810. Papers of the Marshall family [manuscript], 1763-1824. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Randolph, Edmund, 1753-1813. Letter of Edmund Randolph to James Madison, 1788 November 10. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810. Letter of Edward Carrington to C. Richmond, Auditor General for the State of Maryland [manuscript], 24 December 1785. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810. Signature to a letter : Richmond, to Gen. Greene, 1782 Jan. 12. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Monroe, James, 1758-1831. Papers : of James Monroe in the Virginia General Assembly and U.S. Senate, 1783-1790. James Monroe Museum & Memorial Library
creatorOf Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810. Edward Carrington papers, 1781. Library of Congress
creatorOf Lamb, John, 1735-1800. John Lamb papers, 1762-1887 (bulk 1762-1799). Churchill County Museum
creatorOf Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810. Autograph letter signed : Richmond, to "Dr. General", 1781 Nov. 16. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron von, 1730-1794. Correspondence and papers, 1778-1794 (bulk 1779-1781). New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Randolph, Edmund, 1753-1813. Letter of Edmund Randolph to James Madison [manuscript], 1788 November 10. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Ambler, Jaquelin,. Virginia papers, 1748-1816. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Sunderland, Byron, 1819-1901. Autograph letter signed : Washington, to the Attorney General, 1869 Oct. 21. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Anthony Wayne family papers 1681-1913 Wayne, Anthony, family papers William L. Clements Library
creatorOf William L. Clements Library. Nathanael Greene papers, 1762-1852, bulk 1780-1785. William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Cabell family. Papers of the Cabell family, 1727-1875. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn United States. Continental Army. New Jersey Regiment, First (1777-1783). Orderly book, 1780. New Jersey Historical Society Library
creatorOf Johnston, Zechariah, 1744-1800. Papers, 1747-1893. Washington & Lee University, James G. Leyburn Library
referencedIn Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, Michigan Commandery Records, 1885-1951, 1885-1931 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Jared Sparks collection of American manuscripts, 1582-1843 Houghton Library
referencedIn Craig, Robert. Letter : to Edward Carrington, Supervisor of the District of Virginia, 1793 April 22. Library of Virginia
creatorOf Griffen, Cyrus, 1748-1810. Letters, 1788-1810. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn George Washington papers, 1592-1943 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810. Autograph letter signed : to Gen. Greene, 1781 Apr. 26. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791. Papers of Benjamin Harrison, 1779-1788 (bulk 1779-1783). Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
creatorOf Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810. End of a letter and signature in autograph : Richmond, 1781 Dec. 29. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Johnston, Zachariah, fl. 1790-1792. Papers, 1790-1792. William & Mary Libraries
creatorOf Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810. Autograph letter signed : "Richmond", to Gen. Greene, 1781 Sept. 15. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Washington, George, 1732-1799. George Washington papers, 1592-1937 (bulk 1748-1799). Library of Congress
creatorOf Ronald, William. Notice of Sale of Public Lands, 1785 April 1, n.p. William & Mary Libraries
creatorOf Henley, David, 1749-1823. David Henley papers, 1794-1808, bulk 1794-1801. Tennessee State Library & Archives, TSLA
creatorOf Carrington family. Papers, 1743-1887. Library of Virginia
referencedIn Carrington, Elizabeth Jaquelin Ambler Brent, 1765-1847. Elizabeth Jaquelin Ambler Brent Carrington papers, 1781-1823. Library of Congress
referencedIn Carrington Papers, 1798-1911, (bulk 1802-1860) Rhode Island Historical Society
referencedIn Carrington, Peyton Rodes, 1834-1911. Carrington family papers. Library of Virginia
referencedIn Carrington Papers, 1798-1911, (bulk 1802-1860) Rhode Island Historical Society
referencedIn Papers of Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, 1778-1851 (bulk 1779-1781) New-York Historical Society
creatorOf Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810. Letter of Edward Carrington to C. Richmond, Auditor General for the State of Maryland, 24 December 1785. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Randolph, John, 1773-1833. Letter, 1806 February 28, Georgetown, D.C., to Edward Carrington. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
creatorOf Cabell, Joseph C. (Joseph Carrington), 1778-1856. Papers of the Cabell family, 1727-1875. University of Virginia. Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Cabell family. family
associatedWith Carrington, Elizabeth Jaquelin Ambler Brent, 1765-1847. person
memberOf Carrington family family
associatedWith Carrington, Peyton Rodes, 1834-1911. person
associatedWith Craig, Robert. person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith Emmet, Thomas Addis person
associatedWith Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786, person
associatedWith Griffen, Cyrus, 1748-1810. person
associatedWith Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791. person
associatedWith Henley, David, 1749-1823. person
associatedWith Johnston, Zechariah, 1744-1800. person
associatedWith Lamb, John, 1735-1800. person
associatedWith Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Michigan Commandery. corporateBody
associatedWith Monroe, James, 1758-1831. person
associatedWith Randolph, Edmund, 1753-1813. person
associatedWith Randolph, John, 1773-1833. person
associatedWith Richmond, C. person
associatedWith Ronald, William person
associatedWith Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866 person
associatedWith Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron von, 1730-1794. person
associatedWith Sunderland, Byron, 1819-1901. person
associatedWith United States. Army. Quartermaster Corps. corporateBody
memberOf United States. Continental Army corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Continental Army. New Jersey Regiment, First (1777-1783) corporateBody
memberOf United States. Continental Congress corporateBody
memberOf United States. Marshals Service corporateBody
correspondedWith Washington, George, 1732-1799. person
associatedWith Wayne family family
associatedWith William L. Clements Library. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Richmond VA US
Cumberland County VA US
Subject
Occupation
Army officers
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Lawyers
Plantation owners
Activity

Person

Birth 1748-02-11

Death 1810-10-28

Male

Britons,

Americans

English

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6039hmj

Ark ID: w6039hmj

SNAC ID: 87426765