Dabney Carr was born on April 27, 1773, a descendant of Thomas Carr (1678 - 1737) of "Bear Castle, " one of the first justices of Caroline County, Virginia, United States, sheriff of King William County, and representative from the latter county in the House of Burgesses. Thomas Carr's son, Dabney Carr the elder, married Martha, sister of Thomas Jefferson, and their son was Dabney Carr the younger.
Education
Dabney attended Hampden Sidney College, and later studied law.
Career
Carr was closely associated in his early legal career with James Barbour, William Wirt, and others of like caliber. He and Wirt corresponded frequently and intimately for fully thirty-seven years. In 1807, the two friends planned to raise a legion in Virginia, should war come with Great Britain. But they took up the pen instead, and Carr was one of the contributors to Wirt's Old Bachelor. So good was Carr's style that Wirt advised him to take seriously to authorship. In 1811, Carr was appointed circuit judge by the Governor and Council, but when his nomination came before the Assembly, the next year, his opponents were able to defeat the confirmation of the appointment, in spite of the fact that Carr had acquitted himself creditably in the position. A new chancery district, with the seat of justice at Winchester, was created immediately, and Carr was made its chancellor. This necessitated his moving to Winchester. In 1824 he succeeded Judge Fleming in the state supreme court of appeals. Here he served with distinction until his death.
Achievements
Personality
He was well-read, cultured, possessed of humor and kindness of heart. In his profession he was industrious, punctual, learned, and upright.
Connections
In 1800 he married his first cousin, Elizabeth Carr.