Person Byrd; William (1674 - 1744); American colonial diarist Byrd William American colonial diarist 1674 - 1744 British Male Henrico County, Virginia, British America 28 March 1674 16740328 Westover, Virginia, British America 26 August 1744 17440826 Burial: Westover Plantation, Virginia, British America

Colonial planter, diarist, and statesman Natural history Education: Educated in England at Christopher Glasscock's School (1684); Middle Temple (admitted 1692) Career: Travelled to Holland (1690); returned to Virginia (1692); Member of the House of Burgesses (1692); returned to England; called to the Bar (1695); Agent for Virginia in London (1698); returned to Virginia on the death of his father to manage his estates(1704); Receiver General of Virginia (1706); Member of the Council of State (1709); one of the Commissioners to run the dividing line between Virginia and North Carolina (1728); surveyed the bounds of the Northern Neck (1736); President of the Council (1743) Parents: William Byrd of Virginia, an Indian trader and importer of enslaved people, and Mary, daughter of Warham Horsmanden, a Royalist refugee. Siblings: Elizabeth Mary Moss; Jane Baugh; Martha Ann Winn; Susan Brayne; John Byrd; Anne Ursula Beverley; Mary Elizabeth Duke and Maurice Warsham Byrd. Spouse: Lucy, daughter of General Daniel Parke; 2) Maria, daughter of Thomas Taylor of Kensington Children: Evelyn Byrd; Elizabeth Dejarnette; Parke Byrd; Philips William Byrd; Wilhelmina Chamberlayne; Ann Gathright; Anne Carter; Maria Taylor Carter (Byrd); Colonel William Evelyn Byrd, III; Jane Page and Unknown Byrd Portrayed colonial life on the southern British plantations. Considered the founder of Richmond, Virginia. During his lifetime he accumulated over 179,000 acres of land and was considered to be vastly wealthy. His nickname was the 'Black Swan', perhaps an allusion to birds that he introduced at Westover Plantation. Royal Society roles: Council: 1697, 1698-1700, 1702 Fellow 29/04/1696 22 Sources: Bulloch's Roll; DAB; Hunter; MT References: John H Appleby, 'Ginseng and the Royal Society' in NR 1982-83 vol 37 pp 121-145 Notes: MT gives father as William Byrd of the parish of St Katherine Cree, London International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 doi.org/10.1098/rstl.1695.0142 RCN 31374 RCN R64295 RCN 31372 RCN 31373 RCN 31371 28 Mar 1674 - 26 Aug 1744 The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 03/01/2024 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA8157 21/11/2001 Andyg pmab 03/01/2024 RS_NET\VidaM Yes http://viaf.org/viaf/71428126 0f9d59ba-f11f-4c88-9f16-7ec34fe27f29