The Lords Baltimore

George Calvert Begins His Political Career

Apr 27, 2006 Mary Trotter Kion

In 1625, George Calvert owned a 2,300-acre estate in County Longford in Northern Ireland. He would soon be made the first Lord Baltimore.

George Calvert: The Early Years

In 1625, George Calvert was the proud owner of a fine estate consisting of 2,300 acres. This lush green holding was not in the New World, but located in County Longford in Northern Ireland. However, in time George Calvert would become the feudal lord of other rich emerald lands far across the Atlantic in America. This new acreage would be called Maryland. In a time-span of 144 years, six Calvert men, each in their turn and consecutively, would be the soul owners of Maryland. The exception to this consecutive ownership would be the last owner. These Calvert men would each be known by the title of Lord Baltimore.

It was in that year of 1625 that George Calvert received the first barony that would be passed down from father to son for many generations.

George Calvert was born somewhere near Kiplin, Yorkshire, England in about 1580. He was probably of Flemish descent but came to know Ireland well as clerk of the Crown in county Clare. Because of his loyality to King James I for serving on two royal commissions to investigate religious discord in Ireland, and other crown services, Calvert was presented with a barony.

It is believed that Calvert's parents were Roman Catholics, but he received a Protestant education. At the age of seventeen he earned his bachelor's degree from Trinity College, Oxford, England. At age twenty-five, along with the Duke of Lenox, the Earls of Oxford and Northumberland, and Sir Robert Cecil, Calvert was awarded a master's degree.

Calvert's political career now became a progressive whirlwind that spun him higher and higher towards success. He first became Sir Robert Cecil's private secretary. In 1610, King James sent him on a mission to France. On his return he was made an assistant to the king as a translator. He served several terms in Parliament then in 1617 he was knighted.

In addition to Calvert's various British political involvements, he also had another, far-reaching, interest-the

New World of America.

The Lords Baltimore continued: part 2..

George Calvert Becomes the First Lord Baltimore

George Calvert becomes associated with the Virginia Company, the provisional council for the Virginia colony, the New England Company, and owns a plantation in Newfoundland. He becomes Lord Baltimore.

The copyright of the article The Lords Baltimore in American History is owned by Mary Trotter Kion. Permission to republish The Lords Baltimore in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.