William Byrd II: The Virginia Planter Who Documented His Cruelty and Sexual Abuse of His Slaves in a Diary

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William Byrd II was one of colonial Virginia’s most powerful men. He was wealthy, educated, politically connected, and widely respected among the white ruling class. He helped found Richmond and Petersburg, served on the Virginia Governor’s Council for decades, and moved easily between England and the colonies. Yet behind the image of refinement was a […]
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