William byrd biography virginia planter

Early Years

Byrd was born on March 28, 1674, probably near the falls of the James River in Henrico County, the eldest child of Mary Horsmanden Filmer Byrd and her second husband, William Byrd (ca.

1652–1704).

William byrd death

He is usually referred to as William Byrd II (a style that he did not employ) to distinguish him from his father and his only surviving son.

Byrd spent the formative years of his childhood in England. When he was two years old he and his mother temporarily left Virginia to reside with her relatives in Purleigh, Essex County, England.

Although Byrd probably returned to Virginia two years later, by the age of seven he was definitely in England in the care of the same relatives, who sent him for nine years to the Felsted School, a prestigious academy in the same shire.

He learned Greek and Latin and there probably also acquired his ability to read French, Italian, and Hebrew. After leaving school Byrd worked for tobacco trading companies for two years in London and Rotterdam to