Family and Education

bap. 30 Sept. 1668,1 1st s. of Lawrence Carter, M.P., of the Newarke, Leicester, by Elizabeth, da. of Thomas Wadland of the Newarke, Leicester. educ. Trinity, Oxf. 1688; I. Temple, called 1694; L. Inn 1702. unm. Kntd. 4 May 1724.

Offices Held

Recorder of Leicester 1697-1729; solicitor-gen. to Prince of Wales 1715-26; K.C. 1715; serjeant-at-law 1724; baron of the Exchequer 1726-d.

Biography

Both Carter and his father were prominent citizens of Leicester, which they represented successively in every Parliament but one under William III. Defeated at Anne’s accession, Carter was returned for Bere Alston by Lord Stamford, the head of the Leicestershire Whigs. After George I’s accession he voted with the Government in every recorded division, becoming chairman of the committee set up by the House of Commons on 30 May 1717 to consider the impeachment of Lord Oxford, and speaking in favour of the repeal of the Occasional Conformity and Schism Acts. During the debates on the South Sea directors, he proposed that Sir John Blunt should be allowed to keep one shilling out of his confiscated fortune. After the death of his patron, Lord Stamford, he sat again for his native city, till his appointment to a judgeship in 1726.

He died 14 Mar. 1745.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Eveline Cruickshanks

Notes

• 1. St. Mary's, Leicester, par. reg.