| Birth Date: | 6 October 1820 |
| Birth Place: | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Alma Mater: | Yale College Trinity College, Cambridge |
| Occupation: | Scholar, author |
| Spouse: | |
| Children: | 2 |
| Parents: | John Bristed Magdalena Astor |
| Family: | Astor family |
Charles Astor Bristed (October 6, 1820 – January 14, 1874) was an American scholar and author, sometimes writing under the pen name Carl Benson.[1] He was the first American to write a full-length defense of Americanisms and is the earliest known person to use the term "conspiracy theory".[2]
Charles was born in New York City, New York, the son of the Reverend John Bristed, an Episcopal clergyman from a New England family, and Magdalena Astor.[3] After his mother's death in 1832, Charles went to live his with grandparents, fur-trader John Jacob Astor and Sarah Todd at their home, "Hellgate" where many famous writers of the day, including Washington Irving and Fitz-Greene Halleck, visited.[3] His mother was the eldest child of John Jacob Astor and his maternal uncle was William Backhouse Astor Sr.[4]
He graduated from Yale College in 1839 with honors, and from Trinity College, Cambridge, England, in 1845, taking numerous prizes and being made a foundation scholar of the college.