Gerhard Spieler (1920-2012) was a historian who wrote extensively about Beaufort County on topics such as local churches, cemeteries, and military forts, and was also a researcher of the area's African American history. Spieler wrote a weekly column for the Beaufort Gazette and also wrote a column known as "Historically Speaking" for Sea Island Scene. Spieler was a military veteran of World War II and was married to Ruth Spieler.