Richard Dobbs Spaight was part of the North Carolina delegation and was one of many framers who helped write the Constitution of the United States of America as well as sign it. In the next few paragraphs you will learn about Spaights early years, how he came to attend the Constitutional Convention, and his life afterwards as well.
Richard Dobbs Spaight was born on March 25, 1758 in New Bern, North Cariolina. When he was eight his parents died and he was orphaned and sent to Ireland, where he received a great education at his secondary school, and later graduated from the University of Glasgow. In 1778, Spaight returned to North Carolina and joined the state militia. And in 1780 Spaight participated in the Battle of Camden. In 1781 Richard Dobbs Spaight left the militia, and with an interest in politics, was elected into the lower house of legislature. From 1781-1783 Spaight represented New Bern, between terms served in the Continental Congress, and from 1785-1787 he represented Craven County for the lower house of legislature.
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Under the Articals of Confederation the existing government was fragile, the Constitutional Convention met between May and September of 1787 to discuss the issues. Richard Dobbs Spaight had the opportunity to help write the Constitution. During the Convention, Spaight supported the election of Senators by states, although the larger states didn't agree with Spaights idea, he got his way. On September 17,1787, Richard Dobbs Spaight along with 37 other framers, signed the Constitution of the United States of