By 1754, Charles Nisbet had completed studies at both the High School and the University of Edinburgh and had entered Divinity Hall to prepare for the ministry.

This caused the Trustees of Dickinson College to turn their attention to him for the new institution in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Persuaded by Benjamin Rush and John Dickinson, Nisbet accepted the position and sailed from Greenock with his family on April 23, 1785.

Given Carlisle's muddy frontier appearance and weather, Nisbet seriously considered returning to Scotland, but was persuaded to remain.

[3] His son Alexander Nisbet born 1777 was a founding member of the St Andrews Society of Baltimore in 1806.