Richard Spaight senior

Richard Spaight

Richard Dobbs Spaight (born March 25, 1758 in New Bern , Province of North Carolina , † September 6, 1802 ibid) was an American politician and the eighth governor of the state of North Carolina .

Early years and political advancement

After the early death of his parents, the young Richard Spaight was sent to Europe for training. In Ireland he attended elementary schools. He then studied at the University of Glasgow in Scotland . In 1778 he returned to North Carolina. At that time the War of Independence was in full swing there. Spaight immediately sided with the Americans and fought alongside Governor Richard Caswell in the Battle of Camden . During this time his political career began. Between 1779 and 1783 he was a member of the House of Representatives from North Carolina . He was then a delegate to the Continental Congress until 1785 and then a member of the state parliament for another two years until 1787. In 1787 he was a delegate at the constituent convention of the USA; In 1788 he was a member of the North Carolina congregation that ratified this constitution.

North Carolina Governor

After he had already unsuccessfully applied for the office of governor in 1787 and 1788, he initially withdrew from politics, which was also due to his poor health. In 1792 he returned to the political scene and was elected by the House of Representatives to succeed Alexander Martin as the eighth governor of North Carolina. His term of office, including two re-elections, began on December 14, 1792 and ended on November 19, 1795. During his tenure, the area of ​​the future capital Raleigh and the location of the new University of North Carolina ( Chapel Hill ) were determined. Spaight was also the head of the board of trustees of that university. After he had completed three one-year terms in office, he constitutionally had to forego direct candidacy again.

Further life

After the end of his term Spaight was for the Democratic-Republican Party in the United States House of Representatives voted. He held this mandate between December 1798 and March 1801. His last public office was from 1801 to 1802 as a member of the North Carolina Senate . Richard Spaight was fatally injured in a duel with political rival John Stanly . Stanly was arrested and convicted of the incident, but pardoned by later Governor Benjamin Williams .

Richard Spaight was married to Mary Leach. The couple had three children, including Richard Spaight Jr. , who also became governor of North Carolina in 1835.

Web links

• Richard Spaight in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)
• Richard Spaight in the National Governors Association (English)
• Richard Dobbs Spaight in the database of Find a Grave (English)