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1st Lord Baltimore, George Calvert (ca. 1580-1632)
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| Identifier | 1georgecalvert |
| Title | 1st Lord Baltimore, George Calvert (ca. 1580-1632) |
| Creator | Mytens, Daniel, 1590-1648
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| Subject | Baltimore, George Calvert, Baron, 1580?-1632
Colonization
Portraits
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| Description | Poster of the original painting of George Calvert, First Lord Baltimore, that hangs in the main hall of the Central Library, Enoch Pratt Free Library / State Library Resource Center.
George Calvert, the virtual founder of Maryland, was born at Kiplin, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, and grew up in an age that witnessed the defeat of the Spanish Armada, the exploits of Drake and Raleigh, and a flowering of literature, including Spenser and Shakespeare. After taking the degree of B.A. at Trinity College, Oxford, he gained the notice of Sir Robert Cecil, minister to King James I, and entered his employ as secretary.
By his industry and judgment Calvert won the confidence of the King, was knighted in 1617, was chosen one of James's two secretaries of state. Meanwhile he served several terms in Parliament. His knowledge and integrity brought him the respect of all about the court. For these qualities as well as for his able and faithful services, King James and, later, Charles I rewarded him with substantial grants. James gave him an annual pension of £1000 and extensive lands in Country Longford, Ireland. In 1625, however, Calvert's career reached a turning point when he had announced that he had become a member of the Roman Catholic Church, an event that in England of the seventeenth century was likely to put an end to political preferment. In February, Calvert resigned his office, whereupon James created him Baron Baltimore in the Irish peerage.
Calvert's zeal for American colonization was foreshadowed early in his career when he became a member of both the Virginia and the New England companies. In 1621 he purchased lands in Newfoundland, where he soon planted a settlement, later erected by royal patent into the province of Avalon. He twice visited the colony, but in 1629 the severe climate drove him to ask for lands farther south. After a journey to Virginia he returned to England and petitioned Charles I for a grant adjacent to that colony. With the sanction of the King, Calvert drew up a charter conveying to himself broad holdings on both sides of the Chesapeake Bay, as far as the fortieth degree of latitude. Before the instrument passed the seals Calvert died, but it was a document which, when approved on June 20, 1632, became the means of translating into reality the first Lord Baltimore's dream of American colonization. In the charter the name of Maryland ("Terra Mariae") appeared for the first time.
The portrait is by Daniel Mytens the Elder, court painter to both James I and Charles I. |
| Publisher (Electronic Version) | Enoch Pratt Free Library
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| Holding Institution | Enoch Pratt Free Library
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| Date Original | ca. 1625-1632 |
| Date Digital | 1998 |
| Type | Image
Text
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| Format | Digital reproduction of 1 color poster. |
| Source | Central Hall, Enoch Pratt Free Library / State Library Resource Center; |
| Relation | Is Part Of the Six Lords Baltimore
Is Part Of the Maryland Digital Cultural Heritage Program
Is Part Of Prominent Marylanders
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| Coverage (Time Period) | 1621-1630
1631-1640
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| Rights | The digital images contained in the Portraits of the Six Lords Baltimore Collection are copyright 1998 by the Enoch Pratt Free Library. The Library does not own the copyrights to the prints themselves; to the best of our knowledge all the images published on this website are no longer copyrighted. Anyone intending to use these images must be aware that they may be subject to copyright, fees, and other legal restrictions imposed by parties outside of the Library. Usage of this exhibit implies consent with these digital guidelines. The users of this exhibit are solely responsible for any storage, republication, adaptation, or transmission of these images in any form outside of this exhibit. The Enoch Pratt Free Library is not responsible for the outside use of these images.
The library is committed to the responsible and legal use of any content posted on its web site. Any questions regarding the legal nature of content on this site may be referred to copyright@prattlibrary.org. |
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