William Byrd II

William Byrd II (1674-1744) was born at Westover Plantation in Charles City County, Virginia, and educated in England for the law. He was a member of the King's Counsel for 37 years. He returned to the Colony following his schooling in England, lived in lordly estate on his plantation, Westover, and gathered the most valuable library in the Virginia Colony, numbering some 4000 books. He was the founder of Richmond and provided the land where Richmond, Virginia was laid out in 1737. His father, Colonel William Byrd I, came from England to settle in Virginia.

Related Topics:
Westover Plantation - Charles City County, Virginia - England - King's Counsel - Richmond, Virginia - William Byrd I

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

William Byrd II was a fellow of the Royal Society of Great Britain. He was the author of the Westover Manuscripts, published in 1841 under three titles, The History of the Dividing Line, A Journey to the Land of Eden, and A Progress to the Mines, and most famously, The Secret Diaries of William Byrd of Westover, all remarkable for their style, wit, keen observation, and intrinsic interest to all. His writings have been published in later editions.

Related Topics:
Royal Society of Great Britain - Westover Manuscripts - 1841 - The History of the Dividing Line, A Journey to the Land of Eden - A Progress to the Mines

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Byrd Park and Byrd Field (the original name for Richmond International Airport) are named after him. He is related to the explorer Richard Evelyn Byrd, as well as Virginia Governor and U.S. Senator Harry Flood Byrd and U.S. Senator Harry Flood Byrd Jr.

Related Topics:
Byrd Park - Richmond International Airport - Richard Evelyn Byrd - Governor - U.S. Senator - Harry Flood Byrd - Harry Flood Byrd Jr.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

William Byrd was buried at Westover Plantation.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~