Sir Charles (foaled 1816) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and an important sire in the early development of the breed in North America. In 1830, he became the first horse to earn the title of Leading sire in North America, followed by wins in 1831, 1832, 1833 and 1836. Background Sir Charles was a chestnut stallion bred in Virginia by James J. Harrison and foaled at Harrison's Diamond Grove plantation in Brunswick County. He was sired by Sir Archy, who is generally regarded as the first great American-bred racehorse and sire. In addition to Sir Charles, Sir Archy sired Bertrand (who also became a leading sire) and Timoleon (the sire of Boston who in turn sired the great Lexington). Sir Archy was by Diomed, who won the first Epsom Derby in 1780 but had little success at stud in England. Imported into America in 1798 at the advanced age of 21, Diomed proved himself "utterly revolutionary" as a stallion in his new country. His sire line dominated the North American breeding lists through the 19th century. Little is known about the dam of Sir Charles, a mare by Citizen. She is a member of American Family 19, which descends from Jenny Dismal, imported from England in 1756. Jenny Dismal is thought to descend from Sister to Leedes, though this is not documented in the English Stud Book. Racing career Sir Charles won twenty times from twenty six starts, and finished second four times. He raced mainly in the heat races that were the fashion of the time, at distances ranging from two to four miles. In heat racing, a horse had to win two heats on the same day to be considered the winner of the race. If different horses won the first two heats, a third heat was required to determine the winner. His wins were broken down by distance as "four at four-mile heats, four of three-mile heats, six of two-mile heats, in six, distances not given." Sir Charles' last race was his most famous, even though it was a loss. Sir Charles was considered the champion of the South and American Eclipse was the champion of the North. Harrison issued a challenge to the owner of Eclipse on September 30, 1822, referring to Sir Charles as "this Golden horse, that commanded the wind to stand still, and all creation to bend before him," while conceding that Eclipse