A succesful coal merchant, he and his family had booked passage on the Olympic on April 3rd after participating in the London season and the celebratiosn surrounding the coronation of George V and Queen Mary. At late notice they changed their reservations for Titanic and Carter, along with his wife Lucile and children Lucile and William travelled with their servants and the two family dogs. 

Carter also trasnported his Renault in the hold, a replica of which is seen in the 1997 film.

Carter had his family head upwards and they left in lifeboat 4. Carter himself was the other male passenger to board Collapsible C with J. Bruce Ismay