Bland, Richard Parks (1835-1899), an American statesman known as “Silver Dick,” was a leader in the movement for free coinage of silver. He was coauthor of the Bland-Allison Act of 1878, which Congress passed over the veto of President Hayes. Bland was born near Hartford, Kentucky. He was elected in 1872 as a Democratic member of Congress from Missouri. He served until his death, except from 1895 to 1897.
