This episode of the 1836 podcast, continues the Governors of Arkansas series, by profiling Richard C. Byrd (c.1805–1854), an early Arkansas political leader who briefly served as acting governor in 1849 during a key transitional moment in the state’s history. Born in the Mississippi Territory (present-day Alabama), he moved to Arkansas in 1826, where he built a life as a merchant and farmer before entering public service. Byrd held several important roles, including territorial auditor, member of the territorial legislature, state representative, and state senator. As President of the Arkansas Senate, he became acting governor on January 10, 1849, following the resignation of Thomas S. Drew. His time as governor lasted just over three months, ending on April 19, 1849, when leadership passed to John S. Roane. Byrd then returned to private life in Jefferson County, where he remained until his death on June 1, 1854. Though his tenure was short, Byrd played a meaningful role in Arkansas’s early government, helping shape the state during its formative years after statehood.