Dabney Carr was born at Spring Forest, a Goochland County, Virginia

Goochland County, Virginia

Goochland County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 21,717. Its county seat is Goochland. It is located in the Richmond-Petersburg region and is a portion of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area ....

, plantation just three weeks before the death of his father, also named Dabney Carr

Dabney Carr (Virginia assemblyman)

Dabney Carr was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and brother-in-law of Thomas Jefferson.Carr was born on October 26, 1743 to John and Barbara Carr at Bear Castle, a large farm in Louisa County, Virginia. He studied law at The College of William & Mary at the same time as his friend,...

, brother-in-law and close friend of Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...

. Jefferson took an active role in the support and education of his nephew after his father's death. He attended Hampden-Sydney College

Hampden-Sydney College

Hampden–Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1775, Hampden–Sydney is the oldest private charter college in the Southern U.S., the last college founded before the American Revolution, and one of only three four-year,...

 and returned home to study law with William Wirt

William Wirt (Attorney General)

William Wirt was an American author and statesman who is credited with turning the position of United States Attorney General into one of influence.-History:...

, who was just one year older. The two men remained friends for the rest of their lives. An extensive collection of their letters can be found in the Manuscripts Department, Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...

  He started practice in Albemarle County and, in 1811, became Chancellor of the Winchester District. In 1824, he was elected a judge of the Court of Appeals

Supreme Court of Virginia

The Supreme Court of Virginia is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It primarily hears appeals from the trial-level city and county Circuit Courts, as well as the criminal law, family law and administrative law cases that go through the Court of Appeals of Virginia. It is one of...

 and held this office until his death.

Using the pseudonym Obediah Squaretoes, Carr contributed an article to William Wirt

William Wirt

William Wirt may refer to:* William Wirt * William Wirt...

's The Old Bachelor (1814).

His nephew, Dabney Smith Carr

Dabney S. Carr

Carr, Dabney Smith — Born in Albemarle County, Virginia, March 5, 1802. Grandnephew of Thomas Jefferson; son of Peter Carr and Hester Smith-Carr; grandson of Dabney Carr and Martha Jefferson Carr ; married to Sidney Nichols. Newspaper publisher; U. S. Resident Minister at İstanbul, to Turkey,...

, was a newspaper publisher and later was U.S. Minister to Turkey

United States Ambassador to Turkey

The United States of America has maintained many high level contacts with Turkey since the nineteenth century.-Chargé d'Affaires:*George W. Erving *David Porter -Minister Resident:*David Porter *Dabney Smith Carr...

 (1843–49).

Sources

• John T. Kneebone et al., eds., Dictionary of Virginia Biography
  Dictionary of Virginia Biography
  The Dictionary of Virginia Biography is a multivolume biographical reference work published by the Library of Virginia covering all aspects of Virginia's history and culture since 1607....
  
  (Richmond, 2006), 3:27-28.