Richard M. Weaver was born in Richmond, Virginia, on May 7, 1914. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Davidson College and a Master of Arts degree from Harvard University. He served as a lieutenant in the infantry during World War II and attended the University of Virginia, where he received a doctoral degree in government in 1948
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Weaver began his academic career as an instructor at the University of Virginia, where he remained until 1954. He then joined the faculty at Duke University as professor of political science and soon became chairman of the department. From 1964 to 1969 he was the first director of the Nicholas Murray Butler Center for Study of American Institutions and Moral Values at Duke and then became director of that center's new home, the Center for the Study of Law and Public Policy.
Weaver taught at Duke University until his death on July 13, 1993.