William Caswell (politician)

William Caswell
William Caswell
Member of the; North Carolina House of Commons; from Dobbs County
	In office; 1779–1784
Preceded by	Thomas Gray; Jesse Cobb
Personal details
Born	September 24, 1754; Johnston County (present-day Lenoir County), North Carolina
Died	January 6, 1785 (aged 30); Kinston, North Carolina
Spouse	Gathra McIlwaine (m. 1782)
Children	Richard William Caswell (son)
Parent	Richard Caswell (father);
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	North Carolina militia
Years of service	1775–1783
Rank	Brigadier General
Commands	The Dobbs Regiment (1779); Caswell's Brigade (1779–83)
Battles/wars	American Revolutionary War Battle of Great Bridge; Battle of Brandywine (WIA); Battle of Germantown; Battle of Brier Creek;

William Caswell (September 24, 1754 – January 6, 1785) was an American politician, lawyer, and planter. Besides service on state court benches, he represented Dobbs County in the North Carolina House of Commons from 1779 to 1784. He was also a senior officer who commanded militia during the American Revolution.

Biography[edit]

William Caswell, the son of Richard and Mary (née Mackilwean) Caswell, was born September 24, 1754, in Johnston County (present-day Lenoir County), North Carolina. He received training by apprenticeship in law and served as the register of deeds for Dobbs County. He attended the Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1774 with his father. Caswell was elected to the North Carolina House of Commons in 1779 (second session), 1780-1781, 1782, and 1784. After the American Revolution, he resided at his plantation, "Red House," near Kinston, where he died on January 6, 1785.^[1]

During the American Revolutionary War, Caswell saw service as a brigadier general commanding Caswell's Brigade, North Carolina militia; appointed May 9, 1779 (1779-1783). Caswell previously served as an ensign in the 2nd North Carolina Regiment, commissioned September 1, 1775 (1775-1776); a captain in the 5th North Carolina Regiment (1776-1778); and Colonel of The Dobbs Regiment, North Carolina militia (1779), appointed 2nd colonel during the third quarter of 1778.^[2]

References[edit]

^ Holloman, Charles R. (1979). "William Caswell". Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, in NCPedia. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
^ Lewis, J.D. "William Caswell". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved March 29, 2019.

External links[edit]

[NCPedia-1] Holloman, Charles R. (1979). "William Caswell". Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, in NCPedia. Retrieved March 9, 2019.

[Lewis-2] Lewis, J.D. "William Caswell". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved March 29, 2019.

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