Spaight, Richard Dobbs (1758–1802)

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SPAIGHT, RICHARD DOBBS (1758–1802)

Richard Dobbs Spaight represented North Carolina at the constitutional convention of 1787 and signed the Constitution. An infrequent speaker, Spaight favored strong national government. He was a leader of the ratification movement in North Carolina and was later elected governor and congressman. In a controversy with james iredell over bayard v. singleton (1787), he denounced judicial review as undemocratic.

Dennis J. Mahoney
(1986)