Charles Scott
Kentucky’s 4th Governor
CHARLES SCOTT was born in 1739 in Goochland County presently Powhatan County, VA. He was named after his father Charles Scott. His mother died while Charles was young. The date is unknown.
As a child, he attended school in rural VA.
In 1755 Charles Scott, Sr. died and left his son an orphan. The court was going to place him with a guardian but instead he joined the military at the age of sixteen.
Scott had a long and notable military career. He served with George Washington in the Braddock campaign in 1755 while they were trying to capture Fort Duquesne. He also served during the French and Indian Wars.
Scott's older brother John died, which left him his father's land. In February of 1762 he married Frances Sweeney from Cumberland County, VA. They had 8 or 9 children. Before the Revolutionary War he was a successful tobacco farmer and miller and the owner of 10 slaves.
During the war Scott improved his ranking in the military and primarily fought during George Washington's campaign in the mid Atlantic. He was Washington's Chief of Intelligence. He corresponded with Washington trying to recruit for the army. Scott was then sent to join Benjamin Lincoln in the south and was captured at Charleston in May 1780. He was paroled in March of 1781 and exchanged in July 1782.
In 1785 Scott visited KY. Two years later he moved to land near the Kentucky River, which was 9 miles from Versailles. After his move to KY two of Charles Scott’s sons were killed by Native Americans.
Scott entered politics in 1789, serving as a member of the Virginia Assembly. He served in this position until 1790.
From 1790 to 1794, he fought and led a KY regiment in numerous battles against the Indians. His military reputation grew during the Battle of Fallen Timbers in August of 1794.
His wife, Francis Sweeney Scott died in 1804.
In 1807 he remarried Judith Cary (Bell) Gist. They moved to the Gist Plantation in Bourbon and Clark Counties.
Being a military hero and a Jefferson Republican, he overwhelmingly was elected as Kentucky’s 4th governor. He beat John Allen and Green Clay. Jesse Bledsoe was his campaign manager and Scott selected him to be the Secretary of the State.
During his first year as governor he had a serious fall and was handicapped. He relied heavily on Jesse Bledsoe.
During his tenure, the state’s declining economy was addressed, as was the impending war with Great Britain. He reformed the state’s military and was able to increase it with an addition of 1,400 recruits. William Henry Harrison was appointed major general of the KY militia. Another accomplishment was his increase of pay for public officials.
Scoot was rumored to be a heavy drinker and foul mouthed. However, most Kentuckians still supported him as governor.
After leaving office, Scott retired from public service. He moved back to his estate, Canewood.
He died on October 22, 1813 and was buried at Canewood. Later his remains were moved to the Franklin Cemetery in Frankfort, KY.
I hope you enjoyed learning about Charles Scott, Kentucky’s 4th Governor. He was a well loved governor and had an admirable military career. In 1792, Scott County was formed and named in honor of Charles Scott.
