Charles Wilkes

Charles Wilkes (30 August 1764 – 28 August 1833) was a British born American banker.

Early life Wilkes was the son of Israel Wilkes III (1722–1805) and Elizabeth de Ponthieu (1726–1802). His siblings were John de Ponthieu Wilkes (who married Mary Seton, sister of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton) and Frances Wilkes (who married Lewis Simond in New York in 1809). His father was a member of the firm De Ponthieu and Wilkes, together with Josias, Henry and John de Ponthieu.

His paternal grandparents were distiller Israel Wilkes Jr. and Sarah (née Heaton) Wilkes. His uncle was the John Wilkes, the radical journalist who served as MP for Aylesbury and Middlesex, High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, Sheriff of London, and Lord Mayor of London. Through his brother John, he was uncle to Admiral Charles Wilkes and Eliza Wilkes (wife of John Vernon Henry). His aunt was Mary Wilkes Hayley (wife of George Hayley, an MP and merchant who served as President of Lloyd's of London). His maternal grandfather was the Huguenot merchant Josias de Ponthieu (son of Charles de Ponthieu, a refugee officer from Saintonge, and Marguerite de La Rochefoucauld).

Career He emigrated from England to America in , reportedly "in company with John Jacob Astor on his return from a visit to Europe".

Wilkes was a trustee of the New York Society Library from 1793 to 1794 and, again, from 1798 to 1824. He was also the first treasurer of the New-York Historical Society, serving from 1805 to 1818.

Personal life Portrait of his daughter Frances Colden, by Charles C. Ingham, 1830 In 1787 Wilkes was married to Janet Shaw (1762–1851), the daughter of David Shaw, Esq., a Scotch gentleman. Wilkes and his wife were friends of James Fenimore Cooper. Frances Wilkes (1796–1877), who married David Cadwallader Colden, only son of Mayor and U.S. Representative Cadwallader David Colden and Maria ( Provoost) Colden. Ann Wilkes (1800–1890), who never married. Dr. George Wilkes (1801–1876), who married Harriet King, a daughter of U.S. Representative James Gore King and Sarah Rogers ( Gracie) King, in 1836.

Wilkes died on 1833 and was buried at Trinity Church Cemetery.