Jimmy Carter

official photo of Jimmy Carter, c. 1970s, Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Naval Photographic Center

Birth Name: James Earl Carter, Jr.

Place of Birth: Plains, Georgia, U.S.

Date of Birth: October 1, 1924

Ethnicity: English, with smaller amounts (to varying degrees) of Welsh, Irish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, German, Scottish, remote French, Dutch, and Swiss-German

Jimmy Carter is an American politician, author, and activist. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 39th President of the United States, from January 20, 1977 to January 20, 1981. He was elected to the position in 1976. He was previously a Member of the Georgia Senate, from January 14, 1963 to January 10, 1967, and the 76th Governor of Georgia, from January 12, 1971 to January 14, 1975. He is the first U.S. President to have lived to age 100.

He was the Democratic Party’s nominee for re-election as President of the United States in 1980. He is the only Democratic president seeking another term on election day who was not re-elected since the 1880s.

He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2002. He was also Time Magazine’s Person of the Year for 1976.

President Carter is the son of Bessie Lillian (Gordy), a Peace Corps volunteer, author, and nurse, and James Earl Carter, a businessperson, farmer, and legislator. He was married to Rosalynn Carter (born Eleanor Rosalynn Smith), until her death. Their marriage was the longest of any presidential couple, at 77 years. Their four children are Amy, Jack Carter, who is a businessperson and politician, James, and Donnel Carter. Most of his ancestry is English, with smaller amounts, to varying degrees, of Welsh, Irish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, German, Scottish, and remote French, Dutch, and Swiss-German.

President Carter is the grandfather of politician Jason Carter.

President Carter’s paternal grandfather was William Archibald “Billy” Carter (the son of Littleberry Walker Carter and Mary Ann Diligent/Dilligence/Diligence Seals). William was born in Sumter County, Georgia. Littleberry was the son of Wiley Carter and Ann Ansley/Ainsley. President Carter’s great-grandmother Mary Ann was the daughter of William Archibald Seals and Eliza Harris.

President Carter’s paternal grandmother was Nina Pratt (the daughter of James E. Pratt and Sophronia C. Cowan/Cowen). Nina was born in Abbeville County, South Carolina. James was the son of John Pratt and Mary Kay. Sophronia was the daughter of John Cowan and Sarah Brownlee Clinkscales. The surname Clinkscales is Scottish.

President Carter’s maternal grandfather was James Jackson Gordy (the son of James Thomas Gordy and Harriet Emily Helms). President Carter’s grandfather James was born in Chattahoochee County, Georgia. President Carter’s great-grandfather James was the son of Wilson Gordy and Mary Scott. Harriet was the daughter of Pamly Uriah Helms and Elizabeth Fisher.

President Carter’s maternal grandmother was Mary Ida Nicholson (the daughter of Nathaniel Nunn Nicholson and Mary Elizabeth Dawson). President Carter’s grandmother Mary was born in Chattahoochee County, Georgia. Nathaniel was the son of John Nicholson/Nickolson and Frances/Francis “Fanny”/”Fannie” Nunn. President Carter’s great-grandmother Mary Elizabeth was the daughter of Malekiah Dawson and Mary Marcus Brown.

President Carter’s matrilineal line can be traced to his great-great-great-grandmother Sarah Casandra “Sally” Marcus, who was born, c. 1789, in Edgefield County, South Carolina, and to Sarah’s parents, Daniel Marcus and Mary.

President Carter’s (white) great-grandfather James Thomas Gordy had a child with Esther Johnson, a black woman. Their son, Berry Gordy, was the grandfather of music producer Berry Gordy. As such, President Carter is a half-second cousin of producer Berry Gordy. President Carter is thus also related to singer Rockwell, to Redfoo and Sky Blu, who are the pop duo LMFAO, to Sky Blu’s sister, singer and actress Mahogany Lox, and to actress Bianca Lawson, songwriter and A&R Ricky Lawson, and musician and actress Rhonda Ross Kendrick, who are also Gordy descendants. He is a half-second cousin, once removed, of Rockwell, Redfoo, and Rhonda, and a half-second cousin, twice removed, of Sky Blu, Mahogany, and Bianca.

President Carter is a fourth cousin of politician and author Bob Graham, through their great-great-great-grandparents, Abel Ansley and Ann Morris, on President Carter’s father’s and Bob’s mother’s, sides.

Sources: Genealogies of President Carter – http://www.geni.com
http://famouskin.com
http://www.wikitree.com

Genealogy of President Carter (focusing on his father’s side) – http://www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov