SOURCE: Wright, Louis B. “The Byrds' Progress from Trade to Genteel Elegance.” In The First Gentlemen of Virginia: Intellectual Qualities of the Early Colonial Ruling Class, pp. 312-47. San Marino, Calif.: Huntington Library, 1940.

In the following excerpt, Wright presents an overview of Byrd's life, interests, attitudes, character, and writing.

A large part of Byrd's life before his return to Virginia in 1705 had been spent abroad in varied activities that had given him a well-rounded education. Academic learning, business training, and social opportunities had all gone into the experience of the young man who was to become the most accomplished Virginian of his time. When he came back to London from Holland in 1690 and went into the counting-house of Perry & Lane, he had no intention of staying there long; after learning something of the ways of business he entered the Middle Temple, in April, 1692, and in due course was...