Carte, Thomas

Carte, Thomas an English clergyman and learned historian, was born at Clifton, in Warwickshire, in 1686, and educated at University College, Oxford. In 1712 he made the tour of Europe, and on his return entered into holy orders, and was appointed reader of the Abbey Church at Bath. There he preached a sermon, Jan. 30, 1714, in vindication of Charles I, against aspersions cast upon his memory with regard to the Irish rebellion. This led to a controversy, which was but the beginning of a stormy career. He officiated for some time as curate of Colesrill, Warwickshire, and was afterwards secretary to bishop Atterbury. In 1722 he was charged with treason, aid compelled to escape to France. From that time forward his life was devoted to letters. He returned to England between 1728 and 1730, and died at Caldecot House, near Abingdon, Berkshire, April 2, 1754. His principal works are, The Irish Massacre Set in Clear Light, etc.: —History of the Life of James, Duke of Ormonde, etc. (1735, 1736): and four volumes of the History of England. This was the great repository of facts from which Hume drew so largely, and with so little credit to the real author. See Chalmers, Biog. Dict. s.v.; Allibone, Dict. of Brit. and Amer. Authors, s.v.