Carmichael, John F., 1761-1837

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Carmichael, John F., 1761-1837

Dr. John F. Carmichael was a native of Pennsylvania and became a surgeon at Fort Adams, on the Mississippi River south of Natchez, around 1798. He was also the first collector of duties at the port of Natchez when the Mississippi District was formed around 1800. He was appointed to the staff of territorial governor Williams as a major in 1805. Carmichael made his home at Pinckneyville, a small settlement just north of the Louisiana border, where he maintained a plantation. It grew in size and value as cotton farming became profitable in the 1800s. He also became one of the leading men of wealth and largest slave owner in the Natchez area from 1807 to 1812, primarily through his cotton business, which later became his occupation more so that of surgeon.

Reputedly, Dr. Carmichael was involved with the Aaron Burr conspiracy and was arrested by Cato West in 1806. He was also connected to the court-martial of General Wilkinson. Carmichael was a prominent Federalist supporter. He never married, and it seems he was on good terms with only a few people in his later life. As his health decline, his nephew John Carmichael Jenkins (see below) came to Pinckneyville in 1835 to help him manage the plantation. It was not long, however, before Carmichael had the nephew running the operation. In late 1837 Dr. Carmichael died and left a vast, entangled estate, which his nephew had to sort through as administrator.