Caswell, Richard, 1729-1789

<p>Richard Caswell (August 3, 1729 – November 10, 1789) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the first and fifth governor of the state of North Carolina from 1776 to 1780 and from 1785 to 1787. He also served as a senior officer of militia in the Southern Theater of the American Revolutionary War. He was a signatory of the Continental Association and thus considered one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.</p>

<p>Caswell was born on August 3, 1729, in Harford County (present-day Baltimore), Maryland; one of eleven children born to Richard and Christian (née Dallam) Caswell. The Caswells moved to New Bern, North Carolina, in 1745. He was appointed deputy surveyor for the province in 1750. While a member of the North Carolina House of Burgesses, a position he held for 17 years, Caswell introduced a bill establishing the "Town of Kingston" (which was later changed to Kinston as a result of the American Revolutionary War). He was a prosperous lawyer, farmer, land speculator, tanner, and grand master of North Carolina.</p>

<p>Caswell fought the Regulators at Alamance (1771) during the Regulator Movement, where it is thought he commanded the right wing of Governor Tryon's forces.</p>

CASWELL, Richard, a Delegate from North Carolina; born in Harford (now Baltimore) County, Md., August 3, 1729; moved to North Carolina in 1746; appointed deputy surveyor of the colony in 1750; clerk of the court of Orange County 1752-1754; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1754 and commenced practice in Hillsboro, N.C.; member of the colonial house of delegates 1754-1771, and served as speaker the last two years; commanded the right wing of Governor Tryon's army at the Battle of Alamance in 1771; served in the Revolutionary Army; Member of the Continental Congress 1774-1775; commanded the patriots at the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge, North Carolina, February 23, 1776; appointed brigadier general of the New Bern District by the Provincial Congress in 1776; delegate to the State constitutional convention and its president in 1776; Governor of North Carolina 1776-1780; commanded the North Carolina troops at the Battle of Camden in 1780; comptroller general in 1782; member of the State senate 1782-1784 and served as speaker; again elected Governor in 1785 and served until 1787; appointed delegate from North Carolina to the convention that framed the Federal Constitution in 1787, but did not attend; member of the State convention at Fayetteville, N.C., that adopted the Federal Constitution in 1789; member and speaker of the State house of commons in 1789 and served until his death in Fayetteville, N.C., November 10, 1789; interment in the family cemetery on his estate near Kinston, Lenoir County, N.C.

<ul><b>RACES</b>
<li>11/02/1789 NC State Senate Speaker Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>12/00/1786 NC Governor Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>12/00/1785 NC Governor Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>10/25/1784 NC State Senate Speaker Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>04/19/1784 NC State Senate Speaker Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>04/18/1783 NC State Senate Speaker Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>05/17/1782 NC Comptroller Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>04/27/1782 NC State Senate Speaker - Special Election Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>00/00/1779 NC Governor Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>00/00/1778 NC Governor Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>00/00/1777 NC Governor Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>00/00/1776 NC Governor Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>09/03/1775 NC Continental Congress Won 33.33% (+0.00%)</li>
<li>04/05/1775 NC Continental Congress Won 33.33% (+0.00%)</li>
<li>08/25/1774 NC Continental Congress Won 33.33% (+0.00%)</li>
</ul>