Marker Logo HMdb.org THE HISTORICAL
MARKER DATABASE
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
Near New Bern in Craven County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
 

Richard Dobbs Spaight

1758-1802

 
 
Richard Dobbs Spaight Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Cindy Thrippleton, December 20, 2008
1. Richard Dobbs Spaight Marker
Inscription.
First native-born N.C. governor, 1792-1795; a signer of the U.S. Constitution, 1787; killed in a duel. Grave here.
 
Erected 1989 by The Kellenberger Historical Foundation.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial SitesColonial EraGovernment & PoliticsPatriots & Patriotism. A significant historical year for this entry is 1787.
 
Location. 35° 4.33′ N, 77° 3.289′ W. Marker is near New Bern, North Carolina, in Craven County. Marker is on Brices Creek Road, 0.2 miles south of State Road 1004, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1101 Brices Creek Road, New Bern NC 28562, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. James City (approx. 1˝ miles away); Fort Point (approx. 1.6 miles away); Fort Totten (approx. 2.4 miles away); USRC Diligence (approx. 2˝ miles away); U.S.C.G.C. Pamlico (approx. 2˝ miles away); Jones House (approx. 2˝ miles away); Washington's Southern Tour (approx. 2˝ miles away); Battle of New Bern (approx. 2˝ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Bern.
 
Regarding Richard Dobbs Spaight. Spaight was born at New Bern, NC of distinguished English-Irish
Paid Advertisement
Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.
Click or scan to see
this page online
parentage in 1758. When he was orphaned at 8 years of age, his guardians sent him to Ireland, where he obtained an excellent education. He apparently graduated from Scotland's Glasgow University before he returned to North Carolina in 1778.

At that time, the War for Independence was in full swing, and Spaight's superior attainments soon gained him a commission. He became an aide to the state militia commander and in 1780 took part in the Battle of Camden, SC. The year before, he had been elected to the lower house of the legislature.

In 1781 Spaight left the military service to devote full time to his legislative duties. He represented New Bern and Craven County (1781-83 and 1785-87); in 1785 he became speaker. Between terms, he also served in the Continental Congress (1783-85).

In 1787, at the age of 29, Spaight joined the North Carolina delegation to the Philadelphia convention. He was not a leader but spoke on several occasions and numbered among those who attended every session. After the convention, he worked in his home state for acceptance of the Constitution.

Spaight met defeat in bids for the governorship in 1787 and the U.S. Senate 2 years later. From then until 1792, illness forced his retirement from public life, during which time he visited the West Indies, but he captured the governorship in the latter year (1792-95). In 1793 he
Richard Dobbs Spaight Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Cindy Thrippleton, December 20, 2008
2. Richard Dobbs Spaight Marker
served as presidential elector. Two years later, he wed Mary Leach, who bore three children.

In 1798 Spaight entered the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democratic-Republican and remained in office until 1801. During this time, he advocated repeal of the Alien and Sedition Acts and voted for Jefferson in the contested election of 1800. The next year, Spaight was voted into the lower house of the North Carolina legislature; the following year, to the upper.

Only 44 years old in 1802, Spaight was struck down in a duel at New Bern with a political rival, Federalist John Stanly. So ended the promising career of one of the state's foremost leaders. He was buried in the family sepulcher at Clermont estate, near New Bern.
Biography from the National Archives
 
Also see . . .
1. Richard Dobbs Spaight. Wikipedia biography (Submitted on March 3, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.) 

2. Richard Dobbs Spaight. A Biographical Directory of the United States Congress entry (Submitted on March 20, 2011, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.) 

3. Richard Dobbs Spaight Jr. Find A Grave entry, with photo of gravestone and inscription. (Submitted on March 3, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.) 
 
Richard Dobbs Spaight image. Click for full size.
via Wikipedia, unknown
3. Richard Dobbs Spaight
Richard Dobbs Spaight Monument image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Cindy Thrippleton, December 20, 2008
4. Richard Dobbs Spaight Monument
Richard Dobbs Spaight Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Cindy Thrippleton, December 20, 2008
5. Richard Dobbs Spaight Marker
Richard Dobbs Spaight Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Cindy Thrippleton, December 20, 2008
6. Richard Dobbs Spaight Marker
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on March 3, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 19, 2011. This page has been viewed 1,211 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on March 19, 2011, by Cindy Thrippleton of Apo, Ae.   3. submitted on March 3, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.   4, 5, 6. submitted on March 19, 2011, by Cindy Thrippleton of Apo, Ae. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.

Share this page.  
Share on Tumblr
m=41000

CeraNet Cloud Computing sponsors the Historical Marker Database.
This website earns income from purchases you make after using our links to Amazon.com. We appreciate your support.
Paid Advertisements
Mar. 19, 2024