Richard Bland “died suddenly” in Williamsburg, Virginia, on October 26, 1776. He collapsed in the street and died later that day “at Mr. Tazewell’s.” As his obituary noted, Bland died “in his sixty-eighth year, near one half of which term he devoted to the public service.” Bland was first elected to represent Prince George County in the House of Burgesses in 1742. Although poor health kept Bland from serving long-term in the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, he continued to participate in politics in Virginia. Months before his death, Bland helped draft the Virginia Constitution. He was married three times, outliving each of his wives. His estate included his family’s Jordan Point plantation, worked by dozens of enslaved laborers, and a large library; some of his books were acquired by Thomas Jefferson and later became part of the Library of Congress.
The Pennsylvania Evening Post
Printed by Benjamin Towne
WILLIAMSBURG, Nov. 1. Last Saturday evening died suddenly, at Mr. Tazewell’s, in this city, Col. RICHARD BLAND, one of the Delegates for Prince George, in his sixty-eighth year, near one half of which term he devoted to the public service. He was a gentleman well acquainted with the constitution of his country, as well as with many valuable branches of learning.
