Richard Caswell

Richard Caswell
2nd Grand Master of the Masons of North Carolina
In office 1788–1789
Preceded by	Samuel Johnston
Succeeded by	Samuel Johnston
1st and 5th Governor of North Carolina
In office November 12, 1776 – April 20, 1780
Preceded by	none (American Revolution) (British governor Josiah Martin)
Succeeded by	Abner Nash
In office May 13, 1785 – December 20, 1787
Preceded by	Alexander Martin
Succeeded by	Samuel Johnston
Personal details
Born	(1729-08-03)August 3, 1729 Harford County (present-day Baltimore), Maryland, British America
Died	November 10, 1789(1789-11-10) (aged 60) Fayetteville, North Carolina, U.S.
Resting place	Dobbs County (present-day Lenoir County), North Carolina 35°15′59.9″N 77°37′15.1″W / 35.266639°N 77.620861°W / 35.266639; -77.620861
Spouses	Mary Mackilwean ​ ​ (m. 1752; died 1757)​ Sarah Herritage ​ (m. 1758)​
Children	11, including William
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Great Britain  United States
Branch/service	North Carolina Militia
Rank	Major General
Commands	New Bern District North Carolina Militia
Battles/wars	War of the Regulation Battle of Alamance American Revolutionary War Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge Battle of Camden

Richard Caswell (August 3, 1729 – November 10, 1789) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the first and fifth governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1776 to 1780 and from 1785 to 1787. He also served as a senior officer of militia in the Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War. As a delegate to the First Continental Congress, he was a signatory of the 1774 Continental Association.