Richard Evelyn Byrd
| Richard E. Byrd | |
|---|---|
 
Byrd in 1928
|
|
| Birth name | Richard Evelyn Byrd, Jr. |
| Born |
October 25, 1888 Winchester, Virginia |
| Died | March 11, 1957 (aged 68) Boston, Massachusetts |
| Place of burial | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1912–1927 1940–1947 |
| Rank |
 Rear Admiral
|
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards |
Medal of Honor Navy Cross Navy Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Flying Cross Legion of Merit Congressional Gold Medal |
Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd, Jr., USN (October 25, 1888 – March 11, 1957) was an American naval officer who specialized in feats of exploration. He was a recipient of the Medal of Honor, the highest honor for valor given by the United States, and was a pioneering American aviator, polar explorer, and organizer of polar logistics. Aircraft flights in which he served as a navigator and expedition leader crossed the Atlantic Ocean, a segment of the Arctic Ocean, and a segment of the Antarctic Plateau. Byrd claimed that his expeditions had been the first to reach both the North Pole and the South Pole by air. However, his claim to have reached the North Pole is disputed.
Byrd was born in Winchester, Virginia, the son of Esther Bolling (Flood) and Richard Evelyn Byrd, Sr. He was a descendant of one of the First Families of Virginia. His ancestors include planter John Rolfe and his wife Pocahontas, William Byrd II of Westover Plantation, who established Richmond, and Robert "King" Carter, a colonial governor. He was the brother of Virginia Governor and U.S. Senator Harry F. Byrd, a dominant figure in the Virginia Democratic Party from the 1920s until the 1960s; their father served as Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates for a time.
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