CARTER - FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTION - Virginia CARTER, LANDON, son of Robert Carter, preident of the Virginia council, and Elizabeth Landon, youngest daughter of Thomas Landon, of Crednal, county Hereford, England, was born June 7, 1709; educated at William and Mary College; resided at "Sabine Hall," Richmond county, and was a member of the house of Burgesses from 1748 to 1765 inclusive; was a strong defender of the Two Penny Act in 1757; engaged in a pamphlet war with Dr. John Camm, the head of the clergy, in which he took the ground that "necessity made its own law"; in 1764 he was a member of the committee which reported the remonstrances against the Stamp Act and claimed to have been largely concerned in drafting these great papers. He spent the rest of his life in retirement at his splendid mansion, "Sabine Hall," in Richmond county, on the Rappahannock river. He frequently contributed articles on scientific subjects to the "American Philosophical Transactions," and to the newspapers, and kept a diary. He was chairman of the Richmond county committee of safety, but. while he strongly condemmed the arbitrary action of Great Britain, he deplored the action of the Virginia convention in 1776, in declaring independence for fear of falling into a worse situation under a Republican government. He, nevertheless, patriotically cast in his fortunes with his country. He married three times: (first) Elizabeth, daughter of John Wormeley, of "Rosegill," (second) Maria, daugher of William Byrd, of "Westover," and (third) Elizabeth Beale, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Beale, of Richmond county. By his first wife he was father of Robert Wormeley Carter, a member of the house of burgesses. ENCYCLOPEDIA OF VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY, Vol. 2 Fathers of the Revolution