Richard Dobbs Spaight | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Portrait by Ellen Sharples, c. 1800–1810. | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 10th district | |
| In office December 10, 1798 – March 3, 1801 | |
| Preceded by | Nathan Bryan |
| Succeeded by | John Stanly |
| 8th Governor of North Carolina | |
| In office December 14, 1792 – November 19, 1795 | |
| Preceded by | Alexander Martin |
| Succeeded by | Samuel Ashe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard Dobbs Spaight March 25, 1758 New Bern, North Carolina, British America |
| Died | September 6, 1802 (aged 44) New Bern, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Federalist (before 1799) Democratic-Republican (1799–1802) |
| Spouse |
Mary Leech (m. 1788) |
| Children | 3, including Richard |
| Education | University of Glasgow |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | North Carolina Militia |
| Rank | Major |
| Battles/wars | American Revolutionary War • Battle of Camden Court House |
Richard Dobbs Spaight (March 25, 1758 – September 6, 1802) was an American Founding Father, politician, planter, and signer of the United States Constitution, who served as a Democratic-Republican U.S. Representative for North Carolina's 10th congressional district from 1798 to 1801. Spaight was the eighth governor of North Carolina from 1792 to 1795. He ran for the North Carolina Senate in 1802, and Federalist U.S. Congressman John Stanly campaigned against him as unworthy. Taking offense, Stanly challenged him to a duel on September 5, 1802, in which Stanly shot and mortally wounded Spaight, who died the following day.