Richard Dobbs Spaight
Encyclopedia
Richard Dobbs Spaight was the eighth Governor
of the American
State
of North Carolina
from 1792 to 1795.
, the son of the Secretary of the Crown in the colony. Orphaned at the age of eight, Spaight later attended school in Ireland
and graduated from the University of Glasgow
.
during the American Revolutionary War
until 1781. Although he was elected to the North Carolina General Assembly
in 1779, he was denied his seat after the election was challenged. Spaight was again elected in 1781 and served until 1783.
between 1782 and 1785; he then served in the North Carolina House of Commons from 1785 to 1787, and was named Speaker of the House
. In 1787, Spaight was a delegate to the Philadelphia Convention
that drafted the U.S. Constitution, and he signed the document when he was only 29 years old.
On 24 March 1788, Spaight married Mary Leach; Mary had the distinction of being the first lady to dance with George Washington
at a ball in Washington’s honor at Tryon Palace in New Bern in 1791.
Under the North Carolina Constitution
of 1776, Spaight was nominated for Governor in 1787, but was defeated by a majority in the General Assembly; he was nominated for the United States Senate
in 1789 and was again defeated. In 1788, he was a member of the state convention which voted not to ratify the United States Constitution
, although Spaight himself supported ratification.
Spaight retired from politics for several years due to ill health; he returned to the state House of Representatives in 1792, was elected governor that same year, and re-elected by the General Assembly for two further one-year terms.
During Spaight's term as governor, sites were chosen for the new state capital of Raleigh
and the newly-chartered University of North Carolina
. Spaight served as chair of the university's Board of Trustees during his term as governor. Spaight stepped down as governor in 1795, having served the constitutional limit of three one-year terms.
Spaight was elected to the United States House of Representatives
in 1798, filling the unexpired term of Nathan Bryan
; he was elected to a two-year term in 1799, serving until 1801, and though elected as a Federalist, his views on states rights led him to become associated with the Democratic-Republican party of Thomas Jefferson
. He lost his bid for re-election to Congress, but returned to state government, serving in the North Carolina Senate
beginning in 1801.
, the Federalist Congressman who had defeated him in the election of 1800 for the House of Representatives. Spaight is buried in his home town New Bern
.
, also became Governor of North Carolina
, in 1835. His grandson, Richard Spaight Donnell
, was a Congressional Representative.
Spaight Street in central Madison, Wisconsin
is named in honor of Richard Spaight. Most of the main streets in downtown Madison are named after signers of the United States Constitution.
Governor of North Carolina
The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:...
of the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
State
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
from 1792 to 1795.
Early life
Spaight was born in New Bern, North CarolinaNew Bern, North Carolina
New Bern is a city in Craven County, North Carolina with a population of 29,524 as of the 2010 census.. It is located at the confluence of the Trent and the Neuse rivers...
, the son of the Secretary of the Crown in the colony. Orphaned at the age of eight, Spaight later attended school in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and graduated from the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
.
Revolutionary War
In 1778, Spaight returned to North Carolina and served as an aide to General Richard CaswellRichard Caswell
Richard Caswell was the first and fifth governor of the U.S. State of North Carolina, serving from 1776 to 1780 and from 1784 to 1787....
during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
until 1781. Although he was elected to the North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
in 1779, he was denied his seat after the election was challenged. Spaight was again elected in 1781 and served until 1783.
Political career
The General Assembly elected Spaight a delegate to the Continental CongressContinental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
between 1782 and 1785; he then served in the North Carolina House of Commons from 1785 to 1787, and was named Speaker of the House
Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives
The Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives is the presiding officer of one of the houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The Speaker is elected by the members of the house when they convene for their regular session in January of each odd-numbered year...
. In 1787, Spaight was a delegate to the Philadelphia Convention
Philadelphia Convention
The Constitutional Convention took place from May 14 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to address problems in governing the United States of America, which had been operating under the Articles of Confederation following independence from...
that drafted the U.S. Constitution, and he signed the document when he was only 29 years old.
On 24 March 1788, Spaight married Mary Leach; Mary had the distinction of being the first lady to dance with George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
at a ball in Washington’s honor at Tryon Palace in New Bern in 1791.
Under the North Carolina Constitution
North Carolina Constitution
The Constitution of the State of North Carolina governs the structure and function of the state government of North Carolina, United States; it is the highest legal document for the state and subjugates North Carolina law...
of 1776, Spaight was nominated for Governor in 1787, but was defeated by a majority in the General Assembly; he was nominated for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1789 and was again defeated. In 1788, he was a member of the state convention which voted not to ratify the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
, although Spaight himself supported ratification.
Spaight retired from politics for several years due to ill health; he returned to the state House of Representatives in 1792, was elected governor that same year, and re-elected by the General Assembly for two further one-year terms.
During Spaight's term as governor, sites were chosen for the new state capital of Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
and the newly-chartered University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
. Spaight served as chair of the university's Board of Trustees during his term as governor. Spaight stepped down as governor in 1795, having served the constitutional limit of three one-year terms.
Spaight was elected to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1798, filling the unexpired term of Nathan Bryan
Nathan Bryan
Nathan Bryan was a U.S. Congressman from North Carolina from 1795 to 1798.Bryan was born in Craven County, North Carolina in 1748 and was a member of the North Carolina House of Commons in 1787 and from 1791 to 1794. In 1794, Bryan, a Republican, was elected to the 4th United States Congress and...
; he was elected to a two-year term in 1799, serving until 1801, and though elected as a Federalist, his views on states rights led him to become associated with the Democratic-Republican party of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
. He lost his bid for re-election to Congress, but returned to state government, serving in the North Carolina Senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
beginning in 1801.
Death
Spaight died on September 6, 1802, following injuries sustained in a duel with John StanlyJohn Stanly
John Stanly was a Federalist U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1801 and 1803 and again between 1809 and 1811. He was the father of Edward Stanly....
, the Federalist Congressman who had defeated him in the election of 1800 for the House of Representatives. Spaight is buried in his home town New Bern
New Bern, North Carolina
New Bern is a city in Craven County, North Carolina with a population of 29,524 as of the 2010 census.. It is located at the confluence of the Trent and the Neuse rivers...
.
Family and Legacy
Spaight's son Richard Dobbs Spaight, Jr.Richard Dobbs Spaight, Jr.
Richard Dobbs Spaight, Jr. was the 27th Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1835 to 1836.Born in New Bern, North Carolina, Spaight was the son of North Carolina Governor Richard Dobbs Spaight...
, also became Governor of North Carolina
Governor of North Carolina
The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:...
, in 1835. His grandson, Richard Spaight Donnell
Richard Spaight Donnell
Richard Spaight Donnell was a Congressional Representative from North Carolina; born in New Bern, North Carolina; was the grandson of Richard Dobbs Spaight; attended New Bern Academy and Yale College; was graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1839; studied law; was...
, was a Congressional Representative.
Spaight Street in central Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
is named in honor of Richard Spaight. Most of the main streets in downtown Madison are named after signers of the United States Constitution.
Sources
- Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States,, and John Raimo, eds. Westport, CT: Meckler Books, 1978. (ISBN)
- Sketch of the life of Richard Dobbs Spaight, by John H. Wheeler, 1880. (retrieved 09-20-2010)
External links
- A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787-1824 For Votes cast in Federal, State and Local elections in the Early Republic.