Richard Dobbs Spaight

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

Early years and political rise

After the early death of his parents, the young Richard Spaight was sent for training to Europe. In Ireland, he attended primary schools. He then studied at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. In 1778 he returned to North Carolina. There was at the time of the Revolutionary War in full swing. Spaight immediately took sides with the Americans and fought on the side of 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. Subsequently, he was a delegate to the Continental Congress until 1785, and then for a further two years to 1787 Member of the State Parliament. In 1787 he was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of the United States; In 1788 he was a member of the Assembly in North Carolina, which was ratified this Constitution.

Governor of North Carolina

After he had already applied in 1787 and 1788 twice unsuccessfully for the office of governor, he retired first from politics that was connected with his health. In 1792 he returned to the political arena and was elected as the successor of Alexander Martin for the eighth governor of North Carolina from the House of Representatives. His tenure, including two elections, began on December 14, 1792 and ended on 19 November 1795. During his tenure, the territory of the future capital of Raleigh and the location of the new University of North Carolina ( Chapel Hill ) has been set. Spaight was also Head of the Board of Trustees of the University. After he had completed three each year terms of office, he had to give up a constitutional re- direct candidacy.

Another Journey

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