Administrative Information

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Preferred Citation

Theodorick Bland. Letter, 7 January 1784. Accession 24566. Personal papers collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Charles D. Humberd of Barnard, Missouri, January 1957.

Biographical Information

Theodorick Bland was born 21 March 1742 in Prince George County, Virginia. He was educated at Wakefield School in Yorkshire, England, and began studying medicine at a Liverpool infirmary in 1759. In 1761, Bland entered the University of Edinburg in Scotland and graduated from there with a medical degree in 1763. Returning to Virginia in 1764, he began practicing medicine in Prince George County, until health forced him to retire in 1771. When the American Revolution began, Bland was appointed a captain in the Virginia cavalry. On 4 December 1776, Bland was given command of all Virginia cavalry and ordered to join George Washington's army. Bland's cavalry performed foraging, scouting, and security for the army. Bland's resignation from the army was accepted by Congress 10 December 1779. Bland was elected to Congress from Virginia and served from 1780 to 1783. He represented Prince George County in the House of Delegates and in the ratifying convention of 1788, voting no on the question. Elected to the House of Representatives, Bland served from 1789 until his death 1 June 1790 in New York, New York. He was buried first in Trinity Churchyard, then reinterred in the Congressional cemetery in 1828.

Scope and Content Information

Typescript of letter, 7 January 1784, from Theodorick Bland (1742-1790) of Prince George County, Virginia, to Elbridge Gerry (1744-1814) of Massachusetts discussing national politics, the Continental Congress, and personal matters. He also introduces Philip Mazzei (1730-1816), the bearer of the letter, to Gerry.