Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. James Carroll was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from St. Mary's College in Baltimore in 1808. Carroll studied law, but did not practice. He settled on a farm on the West River, but later moved back to Baltimore. His reputation was improved when he became judge of the orphans' court and a trustee of the poor. He served as a director of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Company.