Charles Carstairs

[7] From Pittsburgh, Carstairs moved to England in 1908 to lead Knoedler's London branch, which had opened in 1902 at 15 Old Bond Street.

[10] The outbreak of World War I interrupted international trade, but also lead to the movement of many Old Master Art works to the United States.

This movement of art works was advantageous, both to American dealers such as Knoedler & Co. and collectors such as Henry Clay Frick.

In 1915, Carstairs stated, "England acquired her great Masterpieces during the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars and now America's opportunity has come.

[18] In 1903 Carstairs met the American actress, Elizabeth Stebbins (19 October 1875 - 7 May 1949), while crossing the Atlantic, he on a buying trip for Knoedler Gallery, and she to perform on the London stage.