Richard Caton (1763 – May 19, 1845) was an Englishman who became a Baltimore merchant and real estate developer. Caton married into the Carroll family of Carrollton and was the father of four daughters, all of whom married prominent Europeans, including members of the British aristocracy.
Caton left England and settled in Baltimore in 1785 as a merchant involved in the manufacture of cotton goods.[3]
After his 1787 marriage, his father-in-law instructed him to develop area along the newly built Frederick Road, which Carroll owned land next to. He gave his name to the community and called it "Catonville", although the name was changed to "Catonsville" in the 1830s.[4]
His eldest three girls were known as "The Three American Graces" due to their beauty and the fact that all married into the English aristocracy. His youngest daughter remained in Maryland and ran the family finances.
Caton died in Catonsville, Maryland, on May 19, 1845, in Baltimore and was buried at Green Mount Cemetery. At his death, he died insolvent, leaving $2,762.[16] His widow died the following year on November 14, 1846, leaving a personal fortune of £186,000 (roughly equivalent to $19.9 million).[16]
Descendants
Through his youngest daughter Emily, his only child to have children, he was a grandfather of four, including Charles Carroll MacTavish (1818–1868),[17] who married Marcella Scott (a daughter of Gen. Winfield Scott);[18] Mary Wellesley MacTavish (1826–1850), who married Hon. Henry George Howard (youngest son of George Howard, 6th Earl of Carlisle); Alexander Simon MacTavish (1829–1863), who married Ellen Gilmor; and Richard Caton MacTavish (1831–1841), who died young.[19]
