History of Westover, (Arlington County) Virginia United States of America

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William Byrd, lawyer, was born in Westover, Va., March 16, 1674; son of William and Mary (Horsemanden) Byrd. He was called to the bar in the Middle Temple, London, England, and returning to Virginia he became one of the most prominent and influential citizens of the colony. He succeeded his father as "receiver-general of revenues," undertook and successfully executed three important missions to England on behalf of the colony, and was for thirty-seven years a member of the colonial council, acting for some years as its president. When in 1699 some three hundred Huguenots sought shelter in the colony he received them with fatherly affection and his liberality to them was princely. He was indefatigable in his efforts to promote the growth and development of the colony, and offered large tracts of his own private property by way of inducement to attract settlers. He was a fellow of the Royal society of Great Britain, and was noted for his literary and scientific tastes, and for his patronage of the arts. To the library left him by his father he made valuable additions until it comprised some thirty-five hundred volumes. He served on a commission appointed to adjust the boundary line between Virginia and North Carolina, and on his return from his tour of inspection had his notes of the journey copied. Later these notes were edited and published under the titles: The History of the Dividing Line between Virginia and North Carolina, A Journey to the Land of Eden (1733), and A Progress to the Mines, known as the Westover Manuscripts. He died at Westover, Va., Aug. 26, 1744.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Westover, (Arlington County) Virginia

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