William Rhett

Colonel William Rhett moved to the Province of Carolina in 1698. He soon became successful and gained a high rank and social status as a colonial leader. In 1706 it was Rhett who commanded a flotilla that fought off a Franco-Spanish attack on Charles Town. He is perhaps best known for his capture of the infamous Stede Bonnet, the so-called "gentleman pirate", but he missed out on capturing the more notorious Blackbeard. He soon acquired a sugar plantation and in 1716 had finished work on his new house, which still stands in its original location. It has been restored and is now privately owned.

A descendant was Robert Rhett.