US Congressman. Elected to represent Virginia's 9th District in the First Congress, he served from 1789 until his death. He was the first US Congressman to die in office. Bland was born at Cawsons in Prince George County, Virginia, into a family of notable planters and politicians. His uncle was Continental Congressman Richard Bland. After receiving a classical education in England, he studied medicine in Edinburgh and returned home to work as a physician. During the Revolution he entered the Continental Army as a Captain of the First Troop of Virginia Cavalry, though his military career was not particularly distinguished. He was a member of the Continental Congress from 1780 to 1783, and the State House of Delegates from 1786 to 1788. As a delegate to the Virginia Convention (1788) called to ratify the Federal Constitution, Bland was among the minority who opposed its ratification because he believed it gave too much power to central government. Nevertheless he sought and won election to the new US House of Representatives as an Anti-Administration candidate. He served for 15 months before dying in New York City, where the First Congress had convened. Originally buried in Manhattan's Trinity Churchyard, Bland was reinterred with honors at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC in 1828.
US Congressman. Elected to represent Virginia's 9th District in the First Congress, he served from 1789 until his death. He was the first US Congressman to die in office. Bland was born at Cawsons in Prince George County, Virginia, into a family of notable planters and politicians. His uncle was Continental Congressman Richard Bland. After receiving a classical education in England, he studied medicine in Edinburgh and returned home to work as a physician. During the Revolution he entered the Continental Army as a Captain of the First Troop of Virginia Cavalry, though his military career was not particularly distinguished. He was a member of the Continental Congress from 1780 to 1783, and the State House of Delegates from 1786 to 1788. As a delegate to the Virginia Convention (1788) called to ratify the Federal Constitution, Bland was among the minority who opposed its ratification because he believed it gave too much power to central government. Nevertheless he sought and won election to the new US House of Representatives as an Anti-Administration candidate. He served for 15 months before dying in New York City, where the First Congress had convened. Originally buried in Manhattan's Trinity Churchyard, Bland was reinterred with honors at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC in 1828.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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