Dictionary of Virginia Biography Search

The Dictionary of Virginia Biography (DVB) is an ongoing biographical reference work covering all centuries, regions, and categories of Virginia's history and culture. The index provides links to online biographies and citations to the print volumes. The Library of Virginia continues to publish DVB content online, with some biographies on Encyclopedia Virginia through a partnership with Virginia Humanities. Check back for new entries.

Content Warning: Materials in the Library of Virginia's collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical and mental ability; and gender and sexual orientation.

Name Life Dates Volume and Page Numbers Residence
Bowles, George Ashby 9 March 1925-9 March 1986 Volume 2, pages 144-145 Goochland County
Bowles, George Ashby 11 May 1883-1 June 1956 Volume 2, pages 143-144 Goochland County, Richmond City
Bowles, William Anderson 26 February 1850-10 March 1919 Volume 2, pages 145-146 Staunton City
Bowling, Richard Hausber 4 September 1864-26 July 1913 Volume 2, pages 146-147 Norfolk City
Bowling, Richard Hausber 24 October 1891-28 December 1961 Volume 2, pages 147-148 Norfolk City
Bowman, Abraham 16 October 1749-9 November 1837 Volume 2, pages 148-149 Fayette County KY
Bowman, Abram Smith 3 March 1868-27 June 1952 Volume 2, pages 149-150 Fairfax County
Bowman, Alpheus Michael 11 January 1847-2 August 1913 Volume 2, pages 150-151 Salem City
Bowman, Jean Eleanor 27 September 1917-16 August 1994 Volume 2, pages 151-152 Fauquier County
Bowman, John 10 December 1738-4 May 1784 Volume 2, pages 152-153 Kentucky County
Bowman, John-Geline MacDonald 30 March 1890-14 April 1946 Volume 2, pages 153-155 Richmond City
Bowman, Joseph 8 March 1752-14 August 1779 Volume 2, pages 155 Kentucky County
Bowman, Paul Haynes 5 July 1887-4 April 1964 Volume 2, pages 155-157 Rockingham County
Bowman, Warren Daniel 9 April 1894-23 April 1987 Volume 2, pages 157-158 Rockingham County
Bowser, James b. ca. 1730 Volume 2, pages 158-159 Nansemond County
Bowser, Mary Elizabeth fl. 1860s Volume 2, pages 159-160 Richmond City
Bowser, Rosa L. Dixon 7 January 1855-7 February 1931 Volume 2, pages 160-162 Richmond City
Bowyer, Claude Bernard 25 December 1880-29 July 1947 Volume 2, pages 162-163 Wise County
Bowyer, John d. 24 April 1806 Volume 2, pages 163-164 Rockbridge County, Botetourt County, Augusta County
Boxley, George ca. 1780-5 October 1865 Volume 2, pages 164-165 Fredericksburg City
Boxley, William Wise 17 July 1861-12 January 1940 Volume 2, pages 165-166 Roanoke City
Boyce, Upton Lawrence 19 October 1830-24 December 1907 Volume 2, pages 166-167 Clarke County
Boyd, Andrew Hunter Holmes 4 June 1814-16 December 1865 Volume 2, pages 167-168 Winchester City
Boyd, Charles Rufus 30 or 31 October 1841-16 April 1903 Volume 2, pages 168-169 Wytheville City
Boyd, Elisha 6 October 1769-21 October 1841 Volume 2, pages 169-170 Berkeley County
Boyd, Maria Isabella "Belle" 9 May 1844-11 June 1900 Volume 2, pages 170-172 Berkeley County
Boyd, Thomas Munford 25 September 1899-2 September 1985 Volume 2, pages 170-172 Charlottesville City
Boyd, William Watson ca. 22 December 1815-8 April 1866 Volume 2, pages 173-174 Botetourt County
Boye, Herman 16 November 1792-20 March 1830 Volume 2, pages 174-175 Richmond City
Boykin, Maury Wood 25 November 1893-11 April 1984 Volume 2, pages 175-176 Norfolk City
Boyle, Sarah Lindsay Patton 9 May 1906-20 February 1994 Volume 2, pages 176-178 Charlottesville City
Boys, John fl. 1619-1627 Volume 2, pages 178-179 James City County
Bracken, John bap. 2 May 1747-15 or 16 July 1818 Volume 2, pages 179-180 Williamsburg City
Bradford, John 17 April 1747-ca. 1 March 1830 Volume 2, pages 180-182 Fayette County KY
Bradford, John Howard 6 October 1881-6 May 1965 Volume 2, pages 182 Richmond City
Bradshaw, Booker Talmadge 26 February 1904-29 December 1984 Volume 2, pages 182-184 Richmond City
Bradshaw, Mildred Roberts Lawrence Glenn 9 February 1902-13 June 1989 Volume 2, pages 184-185 Norfolk City
Brady, James Dennis 3 April 1843-30 November 1900 Volume 2, pages 185-186 Petersburg City, Norfolk City
Brady, Samuel 25 May 1756-1 January 1796 Volume 2, pages 186-187 Brooke County
Bragg, George Freeman 25 January 1863-12 March 1940 Volume 2, pages 187-189 Petersburg City
Branch, Blythe Walker 16 March 1864-22 May 1942 Volume 2, pages 189-190 Richmond City
Branch, James Read 28 July 1828-2 July 1869 Volume 2, pages 190-191 Richmond City
Branch, John Kerr 1 May 1865-1 July 1930 Volume 2, pages 191-192 Richmond City
Branch, John Patteson 9 October 1830-2 February 1915 Volume 2, pages 192-194 Richmond City
Branch, Samuel d. 1 September 1847 Volume 2, pages 194-195 Campbell County
Branch, Tazewell 13 May 1828-30 April 1925 Volume 2, pages 195-196 Prince Edward County
Branch, Thomas 23 December 1802-15 November 1888 Volume 2, pages 196-197 Petersburg City, Richmond City
Brander, Thomas Alexander 12 December 1839-28 January 1900 Volume 2, pages 197-198 Richmond City
Braxton, Allen Caperton 6 February 1862-22 March 1914 Volume 2, pages 198-200 Staunton City, Richmond City
Braxton, Carter 10 September 1736-10 October 1797 Volume 2, pages 200-201 King William County