Charles Ogilvie (merchant)

Ogilvie was the fourth son of James Ogilvie of Auchiries, Aberdeen and his wife Margaret Strachan. He emigrated to South Carolina and by 1755 he was a member of the import/export firm, Ogilvie and Ward at Charleston. He married Mary Michie, daughter of James Michie, chief justice of South Carolina in about 1760.^[1] By marriage and purchase he acquired plantations which produced mainly rice but also indigo. Ogilvie became friendly with Alexander Garden, a Scottish botanist in Charles Town. In 1761 Ogilvie returned to Britain to manage the London end of a new firm of Charles Ogilvie and John Forbes. He had letters of introduction from Garden, and was to act as his agent, while Garden would look after his estates in South Carolina.^[2] In 1774 Ogilvie took his nephew George Ogilvie to South Carolina’ Carolina. He then left Carolina for England late June 1774 leaving his nephew George to look after the business in Carolina. George was supported by Garden and eventually acquired his own estates.^[2]