Charles Eden
Encyclopedia
Charles Eden was the second Governor of the separate Colony of North Carolina
.
on 13 July 1713. He is best known for his actions to end piracy
in the area. Gentleman pirate Stede Bonnet
and the notorious Blackbeard
(Edward Teach) surrendered to Governor Eden and received the King's Pardon upon promising to change their ways. Both, however, would eventually return to piracy.
In 1719 prominent North Carolinian Edward Moseley
accused Governor Eden of profiting from Blackbeard's crimes. Moseley was arrested and fined for his accusations. Eden presented an account of his dealings with Blackbeard to the provincial council, which accepted his pleas of innocence. Nevertheless, Eden's reputation has long been clouded by his connections to Blackbeard.
Governor Eden died of yellow fever
in Bertie County in 1722 at the age of 48. Edenton, North Carolina
is named for him.
, portrayed by Richard Chamberlain
. However, the film takes severe dramatic license, portraying Eden as the governor of New Providence
, the island which is now the capitol of the Bahamas, as opposed to his real occupation as Governor of North Carolina. The film also puts heavy emphasis on the fact that Eden engaged in illegal trade with Blackbeard
(which is true), but the film also claims he conspired with colonial secretrary Tobias Knight to arrange the murder of Eden's stepdaughter in order to claim her inheritance, which is debatable.
, the colonial governor of North Carolina from 1734 to 1752. His great-grandson through that marriage was Congressman William Johnston Dawson.
Province of North Carolina
The Province of North Carolina was originally part of the Province of Carolina in British America, which was chartered by eight Lords Proprietor. The province later became the U.S. states of North Carolina and Tennessee....
.
Public service
Eden was appointed Governor of North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
on 13 July 1713. He is best known for his actions to end piracy
Piracy
Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence at sea. The term can include acts committed on land, in the air, or in other major bodies of water or on a shore. It does not normally include crimes committed against persons traveling on the same vessel as the perpetrator...
in the area. Gentleman pirate Stede Bonnet
Stede Bonnet
Stede Bonnet was an early 18th-century Barbadian pirate, sometimes called "the gentleman pirate" because he was a moderately wealthy landowner before turning to a life of crime. Bonnet was born into a wealthy English family on the island of Barbados, and inherited the family estate after his...
and the notorious Blackbeard
Blackbeard
Edward Teach , better known as Blackbeard, was a notorious English pirate who operated around the West Indies and the eastern coast of the American colonies....
(Edward Teach) surrendered to Governor Eden and received the King's Pardon upon promising to change their ways. Both, however, would eventually return to piracy.
In 1719 prominent North Carolinian Edward Moseley
Edward Moseley
Edward Moseley , was the Surveyor General of North Carolina from about 1710 and the first colonial Treasurer of North Carolina starting in 1715. He was responsible for surveying the boundary between North Carolina and Virginia in 1728...
accused Governor Eden of profiting from Blackbeard's crimes. Moseley was arrested and fined for his accusations. Eden presented an account of his dealings with Blackbeard to the provincial council, which accepted his pleas of innocence. Nevertheless, Eden's reputation has long been clouded by his connections to Blackbeard.
Governor Eden died of yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
in Bertie County in 1722 at the age of 48. Edenton, North Carolina
Edenton, North Carolina
Edenton is a town in Chowan County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,966 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat of Chowan County. Edenton is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region. In recent years Edenton has become a popular retirement location and a destination for...
is named for him.
Film depictions
Governor Eden was featured as a character in the Hallmark Entertainment mini series BlackbeardBlackbeard (film)
Blackbeard is an adventure–drama miniseries based on the pirate Blackbeard. It premiered on Hallmark Channel on June 17, 2006. The Kevin Connor film was shot on location in Thailand, the town of New Providence built on a coconut plantation...
, portrayed by Richard Chamberlain
Richard Chamberlain
George Richard Chamberlain is an American actor of stage and screen who became a teen idol in the title role of the television show Dr. Kildare .-Early life:...
. However, the film takes severe dramatic license, portraying Eden as the governor of New Providence
New Providence
New Providence is the most populous island in the Bahamas, containing more than 70% of the total population. It also houses the national capital city, Nassau.The island was originally under Spanish control following Christopher Columbus' discovery of the New World, but the Spanish government showed...
, the island which is now the capitol of the Bahamas, as opposed to his real occupation as Governor of North Carolina. The film also puts heavy emphasis on the fact that Eden engaged in illegal trade with Blackbeard
Blackbeard
Edward Teach , better known as Blackbeard, was a notorious English pirate who operated around the West Indies and the eastern coast of the American colonies....
(which is true), but the film also claims he conspired with colonial secretrary Tobias Knight to arrange the murder of Eden's stepdaughter in order to claim her inheritance, which is debatable.
Family
Eden's daughter Penelope married Gabriel JohnstonGabriel Johnston
Gabriel Johnston was the colonial governor of North Carolina from 1734 to 1752, the longest-serving governor in state history.- External links :*...
, the colonial governor of North Carolina from 1734 to 1752. His great-grandson through that marriage was Congressman William Johnston Dawson.
External links
- Woodard, Colin. The Republic of Pirates. Harcourt, New York, NY. (2007). (Account of his role in piracy.) Charles Eden page at associated website
See also
- Edward MoseleyEdward MoseleyEdward Moseley , was the Surveyor General of North Carolina from about 1710 and the first colonial Treasurer of North Carolina starting in 1715. He was responsible for surveying the boundary between North Carolina and Virginia in 1728...