Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Charles Carroll of Carrollton, born on September 19, 1737, in Annapolis, Maryland, was a prominent American politician and planter. He is best remembered as a signatory of the Declaration of Independence, being the only Catholic to do so and the longest surviving signer, passing away fifty-six years after the document's signing.

Carroll was a distinguished Founding Father of the United States, often referred to as the 'First Citizen' of the American colonies. This title stemmed from his contributions to the Maryland Gazette, where he published articles under this pen name. His extensive education, which included seventeen years of Jesuit schooling in France, equipped him with fluency in five languages, making him one of the most educated signers of the Declaration.

At the onset of the American Revolution in 1775, Carroll was recognized as the wealthiest man in the colonies, with a personal fortune estimated at two million one hundred thousand pounds sterling, equivalent to hundreds of millions in today's currency. He managed a vast estate of ten thousand acres and owned approximately three hundred slaves. Despite facing restrictions due to his Catholic faith, Carroll emerged as a key leader in Maryland's independence movement, serving as a delegate to both the Continental Congress and the Annapolis Convention.

Carroll's political career continued as he served in the Maryland Senate from 1781 to 1800. He was elected as one of Maryland's first representatives in the United States Senate but resigned in 1792 due to a state law prohibiting dual office-holding. After his retirement from public service, he played a significant role in the establishment of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, investing forty thousand dollars in state-backed securities and joining its inaugural board of directors.