Richard Caswell | |
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| 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 | August 3, 1729 Harford County (present-day Baltimore), Maryland, British America |
| Died | November 10, 1789 (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 |
| Spouses | Mary Mackilwean
(m. 1752; died 1757)Sarah Herritage (m. 1758) |
| Children | 11, including William |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | |
| Branch/service | North Carolina Militia |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands |
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| Battles/wars | |
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.