He was the eldest son of Sir George Carteret and his wife and cousin, Elizabeth de Cartetet.

[1] Philip was elected Fellow of the Royal Society on 15 February 1665.

Samuel Pepys had a hand in the marriage and wrote of it at some length in his diary.

Jemima and Samuel were grandchildren of John Pepys of Cottenham and Elizabeth Bendish.

Samuel noted that Jemima failed to arrive in time for the ceremony at the church.