Richard C. Byrd was born in 1805 in Hawkins County, Tennessee. Byrd was a merchant and farmer. He moved to Arkansas in 1826.
Byrd became auditor for the Arkansas Territory and served in that position from 1829 to 1831. He served in the Territorial Legislature in 1833. He became a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives in 1836 and served in the Arkansas Senate in 1840, 1842, 1846, and 1848. Byrd had an unsuccessful gubernatorial run in 1844.
When Governor Thomas Stevenson Drew resigned from office in 1849, Byrd was president of the Senate and became acting governor. Byrd left the office on 19 April1849 and returned to his store in Jefferson County, Arkansas.
Richard E. Byrd attended the University of Virginia before financial circumstances inspired his transfer and graduation from the United States Naval Academy in 1912.
Byrd was one of several aviators who attempted to win the Orteig Prize in 1927 for making the first nonstop flight between the United States and France.
By the time RichardByrd died on March 12, 1957, he had amassed twenty-two citations and special commendations, nine of which were for bravery and two for extraordinary heroism in saving the lives of others.
RichardByrd (1888-1957), American explorer, author, aviator, and naval officer, known for leading several air and land expeditions to Antarctica, and for discoveries there.
Richard Evelyn Byrd was born in Winchester, Virginia.
Byrd received the Medal of Honor for being the first person to fly over the North Pole; he made the flight with American aviator Floyd Bennett; however, there is some evidence suggesting that he and Bennett may not have reached the pole.
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