Henry Carleton

Background

Henry Carleton was born about 1785 in Virginia. His name was originally Henry Carleton Cox.

Education

Carleton attended the University of Georgia for two years and then entered Yale, where he graduated in 1806.

Career

After a residence in Mississippi, Carleton came to New Orleans in 1814. In the campaign connected with the defense of the city against the British, he served as a lieutenant of infantry under Jackson. For a while he seems to have taught school until advised by a friend to seek a field of endeavor more congenial to his talents. Having read law in the office of Edward Livingston, the great jurist, he became a worthy and successful lawyer at a time when the bar of New Orleans was adorned by an array of eminent names. He was appointed United States district attorney in 1832, serving in this capacity until 1837. His position was a difficult one, for it was during this period that the relations between this country and Mexico were of a critical nature, due to the fact that New Orleans was the center of the despatch of volunteers and munitions in aid of the struggling Texans. In view of the sympathy felt by the citizens of New Orleans for those in revolt against the rule of Santa Anna, Carleton found it practically impossible to enforce the law of April 20, 1818 intended to prevent violations of neutrality. On October 21, 1835 he wrote the secretary of state of the difficulties encountered by him in striving to bring within the scope of the law those going to Texas with arms in their hands. In December 1835 a number of business men and insurance agents requested Carleton to prevent the sailing of the Brutus, then fitting out as a man-of-war. Witnesses were accordingly examined by Carleton, though he failed completely to make out a case. In March 1836 he instituted proceedings against a prominent citizen, William Christy, for aiding Gen. Jose Antonio Mexia, who was fitting out a filibustering expedition against Mexico. But here again no evidence was forthcoming to sustain the charge. On April 1, 1837 Carleton became associate justice of the supreme court of Louisiana in place of Judge George Mathews, serving with distinction in this capacity until February 1, 1839, when he resigned on account of ill health. For a while he traveled in Europe, then settled in Philadelphia, where he became interested in speculations of a metaphysical and philosophical nature. The fruit of these studies appeared in his Liberty and Necessity (1857) and Essay on the Will (1863). Another volume entitled Eight Days in England is also ascribed to him. As a writer, however, his reputation rests on his translation in collaboration with Louis Moreau Lislet of Las Siete Partidas, the principal Spanish code long enforced in Louisiana. An act of the state legislature of Mar. 3, 1819 authorized this task at the expense of the state. The two volumes of the edition of 1820 contain all that portion of the work which was considered as having force in Louisiana. The translation was accepted in 1820 by the legislature on the recommendation of a committee, composed of Pierre Derbigny, Mazureau, and Livingston, appointed for the purpose of examining it. The legislature ordered the translation to be circulated "as a substantial contribution toward an understanding of the laws of Spain". The translators wrote in the Introduction: "The particular care and attention the translators have bestowed, in order to render their work as perfect as possible, will, they hope, secure to them the praise of having faithfully discharged the honorable task imposed upon them by the legislature. "

Achievements

• He was also known as the author on metaphysical and philosophical nature.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Liberty and Necessity: In Which Are Considered the Laws of Association (Classic Reprint)

    (Excerpt from Liberty and Necessity: In Which Are Consider...)

Connections

He was twice married - first to Mlle. d' Avezac de Castera, a sister of Mrs. Edward Livingston, and after her death to Miss Vanderburgh.

1st wife:

Aglae D'Avezac de Castera

2nd wife:

Maria (Vanderburgh) Wiltbank

Daughter:

Aglae Marie Carleton

References

• Sketches of life and character in Louisiana : the portraits selected principally from the bench and bar