MARYLAND STATE - Maryland, the Old Line State, boasts a history rooted in a unique vision of religious tolerance and colonial ambition. Unlike many other colonies founded by companies or through direct royal settlement, Maryland's origins lie in a charter granted to a single family: the Calverts.
Founding Fathers of Maryland: The Calverts, a Charter, and a Haven for Religious Freedom
This article explores the story of Maryland's founding, focusing on the roles of George Calvert, the 1st Baron Baltimore, and his son, Cecilius Calvert, the 2nd Baron Baltimore, in establishing a colony that would become a haven for English Catholics and a significant player in early American history.
George Calvert's Vision: A Refuge from Religious Persecution
George Calvert, the 1st Baron Baltimore, was a prominent English statesman who served as Secretary of State under King James I. However, Calvert, a convert to Catholicism, faced increasing discrimination in England due to his faith. He envisioned a colony in North America where Catholics, and potentially other religious minorities, could practice their religion freely, a radical concept in the 17th century (Source: Biographies of George Calvert, historical accounts of religious persecution in England).
The Charter of 1632: A Grant of Land and Power
In 1632, King Charles I of England granted a royal charter to George Calvert, bestowing upon him a vast tract of land north of the Potomac River. This charter not only granted land ownership but also gave Calvert extensive powers to govern the new colony, almost as a feudal lord (Source: Maryland Charter, Maryland State Archives). However, George Calvert died shortly before the charter was officially sealed.
Cecilius Calvert: Inheriting the Dream and Founding Maryland
Upon George Calvert's death in 1632, the charter and the responsibility for establishing the colony passed to his son, Cecilius Calvert, the 2nd Baron Baltimore. It was Cecilius who oversaw the actual organization and settlement of Maryland, becoming the colony's first Proprietor (Source: Biographies of Cecilius Calvert, colonial records of Maryland). He never traveled to the colony himself.
The Voyage of the Ark and the Dove (1634)
Cecilius Calvert organized an expedition to colonize Maryland. In 1634, two ships, the Ark and the Dove, carrying approximately 140 settlers, including both Catholics and Protestants, arrived at St. Clement's Island in southern Maryland, marking the official beginning of the Maryland colony (Source: Accounts of the Ark and Dove voyage, Maryland Historical Society). This landing is commemorated annually on Maryland Day, March 25th.
St. Mary's City: The First Capital
The colonists established the town of St. Mary's City, which served as the capital of the Maryland colony for over 60 years. This settlement, built on land purchased from the Yaocomaco people, became the center of government, commerce, and social life in early Maryland (Source: Historic St. Mary's City website, archaeological research).
Maryland: A Haven for Catholics (and Others)
Maryland was named in honor of Queen Henrietta Maria, the wife of King Charles I, reflecting the Catholic faith of the Calvert family and their intention to create a haven for English Catholics (Source: Historical accounts of Maryland's naming). While primarily intended as a refuge for Catholics, Maryland also extended a degree of religious tolerance to other Christian denominations, a relatively progressive policy for the time. The passing of the Maryland Toleration Act solidified that.
The founding of Maryland in 1634 represents a unique chapter in American colonial history. Driven by George Calvert's vision of religious freedom and carried out by his son Cecilius, the establishment of Maryland as a proprietary colony under the Calvert family shaped its early development and its enduring legacy. From the arrival of the Ark and Dove to the establishment of St. Mary's City, Maryland's origins are a testament to the pursuit of religious tolerance, the ambition of colonial enterprise, and the enduring impact of a single family's vision.
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Sources:
- Maryland Charter (Maryland State Archives)
- Biographies of George Calvert and Cecilius Calvert
- Historical accounts of religious persecution in England
- Accounts of the Ark and Dove voyage
- Maryland Historical Society
- Historic St. Mary's City website
- Colonial records of Maryland
