Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore
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The Lord Baltimore |
Cæcilius (Cecil) Calvert, 2nd Lord Baltimore (
August 8,
1605 –
November 30,
1675), inherited the grant by
Charles I of England of the new colony of
Maryland on the death of his father
George in
1632. Cæcilius, called Cecil, thus became Maryland's first
Proprietary Governor (1632–1675) though he never visited the colony. He governed through deputies, the last being his only son
Charles.
Lord Baltimore, a
Roman Catholic, struggled to maintain possession of Maryland during the
English Civil War by trying to convince
Parliament of his loyalty by appointing a
Protestant,
William Stone, as his governor. Baltimore lost control of the colony for a brief period, however, due to
Puritan pressure during the rule of
Oliver Cromwell. He regained the colony in
1657.
There are several locations in the
state named after the Barons' Baltimore, including
Baltimore, Maryland,
Calvert County, Maryland,
Cecil County, Maryland,
Charles County, Maryland,
Frederick County, Maryland,
Leonardtown, Maryland,
St. Leonard, Maryland and
Calvert Cliffs, Maryland.
Lord Baltimore's family also had title to
Ferryland and the
Province of Avalon in
Newfoundland and he administered the colony between 1629 and 1632 when he left for Maryland. In 1637, however, Sir
David Kirke acquired a charter giving him title to the entire island of
Newfoundland superseding the charter granted to his father,
George Calvert, 1st Lord Baltimore. Baltimore fought against the new charter and, in 1660, gained official recognition of the old Charter of Avalon but never attempted to retake the colony.
Lord Baltimore was married to
Anne Arundell, the daughter of
Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour, in
1627 or
1628. Her name survives in that of
Anne Arundel County,
Maryland.
