[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 23305-23306]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IN COMMEMORATION OF RICHARD CASWELL, FATHER OF NORTH CAROLINA: PATRIOT, 
                           SOLDIER, STATESMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. WALTER B. JONES

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 3, 2007

  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise today In 
recognition of North Carolina's first Governor, Richard Caswell.
  As a sign of honor and respect for his service to North Carolina in 
many significant and progressive leadership roles, I join in strong 
support of the State of North Carolina's designation of the month of 
August 2007 as Gov. Richard Caswell Month to honor this important 
patriot and the first Governor of North Carolina.
  Richard Caswell was born on August 3, 1729, in Harford County, MD. At 
the age of 16, Richard and his brother, William, came to North Carolina 
on horseback with letters of introduction and recommendation from the 
Governor of Maryland to North Carolina's royal governor, Gabriel 
Johnston.
  Richard Caswell was an early and effective leader of the patriot 
cause in the American Revolution. He represented North Carolina at both 
Continental Congresses and served in all five Provincial Congresses.
  He commanded the patriot forces in the important early victory over 
the loyalists at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in February 1776, 
thus becoming one of North Carolina's first heroes. He served 
throughout the Revolution as commander of the North Carolina Cavalry, 
and ultimately served as major general of the North Carolina Militia 
during the Revolution.
  He chaired the committee that drafted the first North Carolina 
Constitution.
  Richard Caswell served as the first Governor of North Carolina and 
still holds the distinction of having served more terms than any other 
Governor of our State.
  He passed away on November 10, 1789, in Fayetteville, NC.
  In recognition of the outstanding statesmanship Richard Caswell 
provided for North Carolina, and the leadership he exhibited in his 
military and public career as well as family life, a celebration will 
take place in his honor the week of August 12 through August 19, 2007. 
Included in the celebration will be a grand re-opening of the Richard 
Caswell Memorial State Historic Site in Kinston, NC, as well as 
concerts, lectures and living histories.
  I am pleased to join the North Carolina Department of Cultural 
Resources, the Lenoir County Colonial Commission and the people of 
North Carolina in honoring Richard Caswell--patriot, soldier and 
statesman.

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