1. Michael Bazarov, Esther Li, Christian McGuirk, John Tong
William Byrd II (1674 – 1774)
Michael Bazarov, Esther Li, Christian McGuirk, John Tong

2. Biography Born on March 28, 1674 at Westover, Virginia
Son of plantation owners
Went to England at age 2
Studied law in London
Elected to the Royal Society for his accomplishments in improving natural knowledge
Agent to the Virginia House of Burgesses
Went back to Virginia upon the death of his father and got married

3. Biography cont. Age 35: began Secret Diary Wife died of smallpox
Age 54 – 62: Surveyor + wrote journal
Westover Library – collected 4,000 volumes
President of Virginia Council of State
Died August 26, 1744

4. Reflection of Time (intro.)
Westward expansion
Religious impact
WB – “modern” vs. the devoted Puritans
The different nature of the societies

5. Literary Contributions – Titles
The Secret Diary (in code)– secular life
A Discourse Concerning the Plague
The Westover Manuscripts
A History of the Dividing Line – Virginia to North Carolina, New England
A Journey to the Land of Eden
A Progress to the Mines
 In modern language

6. Excerpt

7. Literary Impact on British North American Colonies
The Histories of the Dividing Line Betwixt Virginia and North Carolina
Negative Southern stereotype
Positive Native American depiction
Assimilated into white society
Nature is a source of great bounty
Inspired settling of the West
A Discourse Concerning the Plague
Proposed use of inoculation for smallpox defense
Led to successful development of vaccine

8. Physical Impacts Westover estates  Richmond
Surveyed dividing line between Virginia and North Carolina
Observed the New England colonies and the Indians