Richard Caswell - A Unique Leader Richard
Caswell's role as the first Governor of the independent state of North Carolina sets him
apart from all others; further, he was the only one ever to serve for six one year terms,
and the only one ever from Lenoir (then Dobbs Countyy. Caswell was distinguished also
among governors of the newly independent states for having directly participated in the
Revolutionary battles. While serving in the militia with rank of colonel in 1771, Caswell
saw action under Governor Tryon in the Battle of Alamance. Three years later the First
Provincial Congress met at New Bern and named him one of three delegates to the First Continental
Congress, opening in Philadelphia on September 5, 1775. In May 1775, while enroute to
the Continental Congress, Colonel Caswell learned of the April 19th battles at Lexington
and Concord. By the time he returned to North Carolina, Colonial Governor Josiah Martin
had fled the Royal Palace, Tryon, at New Bern, taking refuge on a british warship at the
mouth of Cape Fear River. Military preparations increased throughout North Carolina
and Caswell was named commander of the militia in one of the six military districts. Then,
at the battle of Moore's Creek Bridge on Feb. 27, 1776, Caswell led some 1,100 Whig
troops who ambushed the Tories, upset British invasion plans and made mim a hero of the
Revolution. In 1776, after the Provincial Congress enacted the Halifax Resolves, military
preparations escalated and Caswell was promoted to brigadier general of militia. Later he
was to command all North Carolina militia and was to join General Horatio Gates in the
unsuccessful action against Cornwallis at the battle of Camden. In the meantime, Caswell
served as chairman of a group to draft a state constitutuion, which was adopted, following
the Declaration of Independence, by the Continental Congress. General Caswell was
chosen and reelected Governor of North Carloina by the general assemblies of 1777,
1778, and 1779. The constitution permitted only three successive terms for governor.
Caswell took the oath of office Jan. 16, 1777 in Tryon palace at New Bern, but shortly thereafter
moved the government to Kinston, feeling the palace presented too exposed a target
for British warships. Caswell was again elected N.C. Governor in 1785 and was re-elected
for the full legal limit of three successive terms, serving until 1788. He suffered a fatal
paralytic stroke while presiding over the state senate in the general assembly at
Fayetteville in the Fall of 1789. He died on 10 Nov. 1789 and is believed to be buried at
Kinston in what is now Caswell Memorial Park. The park houses the Caswell museum and
Visitors Center as well as the CSS Neuse. Richard Caswell, surveyor, lawyer,legislator, speaker of the assembly, colonel, treasurer, delegate to the Continental Congress, president of the provincial Congress, brigader-general,major-general,chairman of the Council Extraordinary, speaker of the Senate, comptroller-general and governor, was as highly honored by the people of North Carolina as any other citizen before or since his day. Nathanial Macon, who received his first training in statecraft under Richard Caswell, says of him: "Governor Caswell of Lenoir was one of the most powerful men that ever lived in this or any other country. As a statesman his patriotism was unquestioned, his discernment was quick, his judgement sound; as a soldier his courage was undaunted, his vigilance untiring, his success triumphant." At his funeral, friend and fellow senator William Blount wrote " [he] was a man of high character and good fortune...the procession was really the most regular I ever saw and I assure you that his death was lamented by all Ranks of people very sincerely..."

SOURCES: KINSTON GAZETTE, Caswell MEMORIAL, EUGENE C. BROOKS