Maryland’s Pre-Statehood Identity: The Province of Maryland
The story of Maryland begins with George Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore, who sought a charter from King Charles I to establish a colony in the New World. Calvert, a Catholic, envisioned a haven for religious freedom where Catholics and Protestants could coexist peacefully. After Calvert’s death, the charter was granted to his son, Cecilius Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore, in 1632.
The Province Takes Shape
The Province of Maryland was officially named in honor of Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I. The first settlers arrived in 1634, led by Leonard Calvert, Cecilius’s brother. They…..