The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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William, the Elder Byrd (1652 - 1704)

Alias William, the Elder Bird [Alias]

Colonial governor in Virginia and amateur naturalist. While in England in 1687, he communicated with Leonard Plukenet and Martin Lister, discussing the botanical work of John Banister (Woodfin, 26). He also visited Jacob Bobart in Oxford, receiving from Bobart trees and shrubs, which he brought back to Virginia (ibid., 27). After his return to Virginia, Byrd "was dispatching to his merchants in London samples of crystal rocks" so that these merchants could "have then examined and report on their probable value" (ibid.). In March 1688/9, on the request of William Howard, recent Governor of Virginia, Byrd "shipped to England some walnuts and hickory nuts and seeds of the ubiquitous persimmon, which he called the "Pishamin" (Woodfin, 25). Relevant locations: Lived at or near Virginia, United States
 Relationships: William, the Elder Byrd was a associate or acquaintance (general) of John Banister (1650-1692)
William, the Elder Byrd was a father of William, the Younger Byrd (28 Mar 1674- 26 Aug 1744)
William, the Elder Byrd was a source of object(s) for Francis Howard (c. 1643-30 Mar 1694)
William, the Elder Byrd was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Martin Lister (12 Apr 1639-2 Feb 1712)
William, the Elder Byrd was a correspondent of Leonard Plukenet (1642-1706)

 Linked print sources: as Mentioned or referenced by - William Byrd and the Royal Society.
 References in Documents: