Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Caswell, Richard 1729-1789

Military officer; born in Maryland, Aug. 3, 1729: went to North Carolina in 1746, and practised law there, serving in the Assembly from 1754 to 1771, and being speaker in 1770. In the battle of the Allamance he commanded Tryon's right wing, but soon afterwards identified himself with the cause of the patriots, and was a member of the Continental Congress (1774-75). For three years he was president of the Provincial Congress of North Carolina, and was governor of the State from 1777 to 1779. In February, 1776, he was in command of the patriot troops in the battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, and received the thanks of Congress and the commission of majorgeneral for the victory there achieved. He led the State troops in the battle near Camden (August, 1780); and was controller-general in 1782. He was again governor in 1784-86; and a member of the convention that framed the national Constitution. While presiding as speaker in the North Carolina Assembly he was stricken with paralysis, and died in Fayetteville, N. C., Nov. 20, 1789.