Background
Coalter was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, where he worked on the family farm.
Coalter was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, where he worked on the family farm.
College of William & Mary.
He later became a tutor in the family of Judge Saint George Tucker in Williamsburg, working without pay in exchange for legal education from Judge Tucker. He then continued his legal training by studying law at the College of William and Mary in 1789. Upon graduation, he settled in Staunton, Virginia and began his legal practice there.
After serving as the Commonwealth"s Attorney for several years, Coalter was appointed to the General District court for Staunton in 1809.
On May 11, 1811, he was elevated to the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia. Around 1821, Coalter moved his family to Richmond, Virginia, and also purchased the plantation home "Chatham Manor" near Fredericksburg, Virginia.
He died in Richmond on February 2, 1838, and was buried at Chatham Manor.