Richard Caswell

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Richard Caswell

1^st Governor of North Carolina
In office 1776 – 1780
Preceded by	Josiah Martin as Royal Colonial Governor, Willie Jones as last president of the Council of Safety
Succeeded by	Abner Nash (1st), Samuel Johnston (2nd)

Born	August 3, 1729 Harford County, Maryland, MD
Died	November 10, 1789 Fayetteville, NC
Spouse	Sarah Caswell (nee Heritage)
Profession	Lawyer, Surveyor

Richard Caswell (August 3, 1729–November 10. 1789) was the first governor of the U.S. State of North Carolina, serving from 1776 to 1780 and from 1784 to 1787.

A lawyer and surveyor by training, Caswell represented North Carolina in the Continental Congress of 1774 and 1775. As a Patriot officer in the revolutionary army, Caswell led troops in battle at Moores Creek Bridge.

Caswell was president of the provincial congress that wrote the first North Carolina Constitution in 1776. As the congress adjourned, it elected Caswell as acting governor. He took the oath of office on January 16, 1777. Under the new constitution, the state Legislature ("General Assembly") re-elected him as the first Governor in April 1777. He stepped down in 1780, as the constitution allowed only three consecutive one-year terms.

He served as the state's comptroller and as a member of the North Carolina Senate between his two gubernatorial terms. Caswell was also chosen to be one of North Carolina's delegates to the United States Constitutional Convention of 1787, but he did not attend.

At the time of his death in 1789, he had returned once again to the North Carolina General Assembly, this time serving as Speaker of the Senate.

Caswell County, North Carolina and Fort Caswell were named for him.

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Preceded by President of the North Carolina Council of Safety Willie Jones	Governor of North Carolina 1776 – 1780	Succeeded by Abner Nash
Preceded by Alexander Martin	Governor of North Carolina 1784 – 1787	Succeeded by Samuel Johnston