Richard Spaight Donnell (September 20, 1820 – June 3, 1867) 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 admitted to the bar in 1840 and commenced practice in New Bern, N.C.; elected as a Whig to the Thirtieth Congress (March 4, 1847-March 3, 1849); was not a candidate for renomination in 1848; resumed the practice of law in Washington, North Carolina; delegate to the State secession convention in 1861 and to the State constitutional convention in 1865; member of the State house of commons in 1862 and 1864, and served as speaker; died in New Bern, N.C.; interment in Cedar Grove Cemetery.