Byrd, William

Byrd, William, 1543-1623, English composer, organist at Lincoln Cathedral and, jointly with Tallis, at the Chapel Royal. Although Roman Catholic, he composed anthems and services for the English Church in addition to his great Roman masses and Latin motets. He was esteemed by his contemporaries and was favored by Queen Elizabeth I, who, in 1575, granted to Byrd and Tallis a patent for the exclusive printing and selling of music. Byrd also composed instrumental music.

Byrd, William, 1652-1704, English planter in early Virginia. He came to America as a youth and took up lands he had inherited on both sides of the James River, including the site that would later be Richmond. In 1691 he moved to "Westover," long famous as the Byrd family home. His landed fortune was increased by his interest in trade, and he served (1703) as president of the Virginia council. Byrd's wealth, culture, and character made him the ideal tidewater aristocrat. He was the father of William Byrd (1674-1744).

Byrd, William, 1674-1744, American colonial writer, planter, and government official; son of William Byrd (1652-1704). After being educated in England, he became active in the politics of colonial America. He served as member of the House of Burgesses, as receiver-general of Virginia, as Virginia council member, and as colonial agent in England. Byrd inherited a great estate from his father and ultimately owned over 179,000 acres (72,000 hectares). In 1737 he had the city that was to be Richmond laid out on one of his estates. His service in 1728 as one of the commissioners to survey the North Carolina-Virginia boundary and his many trips into the backwoods provided the material for much of his writings; A History of the Dividing Line, A Journey to the Land of Eden, and A Progress to the Mines were all based on his diaries. Byrd's polished style and crisp wit, in addition to his valuable record of Southern life, have won him a reputation as one of the foremost colonial authors. At his death he left a library of some 4,000 volumes at his Westover estate.

(born 1543, Lincoln, Lincolnshire?, Eng.—died July 4, 1623, Stondon Massey, Essex) British composer. He studied under Thomas Tallis and was appointed organist of Lincoln Cathedral at age 20. In 1572 he became organist of the Chapel Royal, sharing the post with Tallis. In 1575 the two men received from Elizabeth I the exclusive license for the printing and selling of music in Britain. Though repeatedly prosecuted as a Roman Catholic, Byrd remained in favour with the queen. He is renowned as Britain's finest composer of sacred choral works, as well as for his keyboard music and songs. His works include three masses (for three, four, and five voices), some 220 Latin motets, four important Anglican services, and some 60 anthems, as well as some 100 virginal pieces (many preserved in the collections Parthenia and The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book).

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The surname Byrd may refer to:

• Bill Byrd (1907-1991), baseball player
• Bobby Byrd, (born 1934) funk musician
• Butch Byrd (born 1941), AFL Hall of Fame
• Charlie Byrd (1925-1999), jazz guitarist
• Chris Byrd (born 1970), heavyweight champion in boxing
• Donald Byrd (born 1932), jazz trumpeter
• Dennis Byrd, football player
• Harry Byrd (1925–1985), baseball player
• Harry F. Byrd (1887–1966), U.S. Senator for Virginia
• Harry F. Byrd, Jr. (born 1914), U.S. Senator for Virginia from 1965–1983
• Henry Roeland Byrd (1918-1980), blues musician
• James Byrd, Jr. (1949-1998), murder victim
• Joe Byrd, rock musician
• Jonathan Byrd (born circa 1970), folk singer-songwriter
• Marlon Byrd (born 1977), baseball player
• Mary Willing Byrd (1740-1814), second wife of Colonel William Byrd III
• Paul Byrd (born 1970), baseball player
• Petri Hawkins-Byrd, bailiff "Byrd" on the Judge Judy TV series
• Richard E. Byrd (1888–1957), admiral, polar explorer, aviator
• Robert C. Byrd (born 1917), Democratic Senator for West Virginia
• Sammy Byrd (1910-1981), baseball player for the New York Yankees and PGA Tour golfer
• Tracy Byrd (born 1964), boxer
• Tracy Byrd (born 1966), country singer
• William Byrd (1540–1623), English composer
• William Byrd I (1652-1704), member of colonial Virginia's House of Burgesses
• William Byrd II (1674-1744), founder of Richmond, Virginia
• William Byrd III (1752-1777), member of the House of Burgesses, and military officer

Byrd or Byrds may also refer to:

• Byrd Amendment, an American legislative act
• Byrd Station, a summer-only U.S. Research Station
• Byrd Polar Research Center at Ohio State University
• The Byrds, American rock group
• "Byrd" Watkins is a man that fought the famous bare knuckle boxer Kimbo Slice
• Byrd Knife, a line of knives from Spyderco