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In 1782, CHARLES CARNAN married
Priscilla Dorsey (1762-1814), daughter
of Caleb and Priscilla Dorsey and youn-
gest sister of Rebecca Dorsey Ridgely,
the Captain's wife. Groomed to inherit a
major portion of the Captain's enterprises,
business accounts in both names were
established by 1785, and the younger
couple spent a significant part of each
year with the Ridgelys. It is believed that
when the Captain and Rebecca moved
into Hampton Hall in 1788, Charles and
Priscilla Carnan moved with them. Their
second son, John Carnan, was the first
child born at Hampton Hall, January 9,
1790.
After the Builder's death, CHARLES
CARNAN consolidated the Ridgely for-
tune for himself and his heirs. By an Act
of the Maryland Legislature in 1790,
CHARLES RIDGELY CARNAN became
CHARLES CARNAN RIDGELY, carrying
forth the wishes of his uncle to perpetu-
ate the Ridgely family name. Although
"CHARLES THE BUILDER" left his
wife life interest in some of the estate
and personal property, the will specified that CHARLES CARNAN would inherit at
her death with a courtesy entail to his eldest son.
CHARLES CARNAN RIDGELY was appointed a major in Colonel Johnson Imans'
Baltimore militia regiment in 1794 and a_brigadier general in the state militia by 1796^
For the rest of his life, he was referred to as "General Ridgely." A director of the National
Bank of Baltimore and the National Union Bank of Baltimore, he was also elected to
the board of the Baltimore College of Medicine and was an incorporator of the Balti-
more Orphan Asylum. In addition, the GENERAL was instrumental in the establishment
of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
Surprisingly, in light of his uncle's staunch political views, CHARLES CARNAN
RIDGELY became a leading Federalist. The philosophy of a strong central government
which encouraged industry and promoted the interests of merchants and large property
owners was obviously more suited to his princely lifestyle.
GENERAL RIDGELY was elected to the Maryland Legislature (1790-1795), the State
Senate (1796-1800), and served as Governor of Maryland for three consecutive terms.
In the first election of 1815, he was elected by a vote of 47 to 45; in the second (1816)
62 to 17; and in the third election (1817), he was unopposed. Three terms were the
maximum permitted by the state constitution at that time. (Unfortunately, CHARLES
CARNAN RIDGELY's wife, Priscilla Dorsey, died in 1814 and did not live to see her hus-
band become Governor of Maryland.)
Priscilla Dorsey Ridgely (1762-1814), copy of a
portrait by Rembrandt Peale, c.1800. Wife of
Charles Carnan Ridgely, sister of Rebecca Dorsey
Ridgely, and second mistress of Hampton. The \
original portrait hangs at Government House in \
Annapolis, Maryland.
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