CARTE, Thomas, English historian: b. Clif ton-upon-Dunsmoor, Warwickshire, April 1686; d. near Abingdon, 2 April 1754. He was educated at University College, Oxford, and Cambridge, where he received his M.A. in 1706. He took holy orders in 1707 and was appointed reader at Abbey Church, Bath; on account of his allegiance to the Stuarts he re signed. His first publication was entitled
Irish Massacre Set in a Clear Light, etc.,' in which he defended Charles I. from the common charge of secretly instigating the rebellion and massacre in Ireland in 1641. During the rebel lion of 1715, a warrant was issued for his apprehension, which he eluded by concealment; and later when it was supposed that he was concerned in a conspiracy, and a reward of i1,000 was offered for his capture, he escaped to France. Here he collected material for an English edition of the
of being employed by the Pretender, but was discharged. His other works include illustra tions for the
of Thuanus' (edited by S. Buckley, 7 vols. 1733). He published three volumes of his 'History of England' between 1747 and 1752, the fourth, which brought down the history to 1654, not appearing until after his death. The character of this work is de servedly high for research. Numbers of his manuscripts are preserved in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. Hume and other historians have been indebted to it, but the prejudices of the author are everywhere conspicuous. Con sult Nichols, 'Literary Anecdotes' (Vol. II, London 1812-15), and his 'Literary Illustra tions of Literary History' (London 1817-58, Vol. V. pp. 152-56).