Calvert, Leonard
Calvert, Leonard
(1607-1647) Founder of Maryland and first proprietary governor, brother of Cecilius Calvert , born England ; died Maryland. He commanded the expedition which established the settlement at Saint Mary’s, 1634 . The colonists were opposed by William Claiborne of Virginia, the conflicting claims being settled in favor of Lord Baltimore. In 1643 the governor went to England and upon his return, 1644 , found the colony torn by disturbances resulting from the civil war in England . After two years of confusion, Calvert regained control.
Fuente: New Catholic Dictionary
Calvert, Leonard
Proprietary Governor of Maryland, 1634-1647, born in England, 1607; died in Maryland, 9 June, 1647. He was the second son of George Calvert, first Lord Baltimore. In 1629 he was sent to Newfoundland in charge of a vessel to protect the colony of Avalon against the depredations of French cruisers. In 1633, his brother, the second Lord Baltimore, appointed him Governor of Maryland and sent him in charge of an expedition to make a settlement. Two vessels, the Ark and Dove, carrying over 300 settlers sailed from the harbour of Cowes, 22 November, 1633, arriving at point Comfort, Virginia, 24 February, 1634. On 27 March they landed at what is now St. Mary’s, then the site of an Indian village, and they began the work of establishing a settlement. The Indians received them kindly and sold them the land. Clayborne of the Virginia colony had established a trading post on Kent Island, which was in the domain of Maryland. After the settlement at St. Mary’s this trade was continued. Trouble arose and Clayborne went to England to lay is claims before the king, but was informed that the island belonged to Lord Baltimore. The governor at once took possession of the island and established a settlement there.
The troubles in England following 1640 were responsible for disturbances in Maryland. In 1643 Governor Calvert went to England to discuss policies with the proprietor, leaving the affairs of the colony in charge of acting Governor Brent. At the close of 1643 Captain Ingle appeared at St. Mary’s with a vessel commissioned by Parliament. The ship was captured and the oath against Parliament was tendered the crew. Ingle escaped. When Governor Calvert returned he found the colony distracted by factions. Ingle returned the following year, and, with the assistance of the Protestants and Clayborne, the Catholics, including Governor Calvert, were driven into Virginia. An oath of submission was tendered but not one Catholic took it. The Jesuit priests were sent to England. A state of anarchy prevailed for two years. Calvert returned in 1646 and captured St. Mary’s, and in the following year Kent island. he favored the right of initiative in legislation by the colonists and won for them this privilege. In the difficulty between the proprietor and the Jesuits, he sympathized with the latter and prevented a rupture between them. In 1890 the state of Maryland erected a monument to him and his wife at St. Mary’s.
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J.E. HAGERTY Transcribed by M. Donahue
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IIICopyright © 1908 by Robert Appleton CompanyOnline Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. KnightNihil Obstat, November 1, 1908. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., CensorImprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York
Fuente: Catholic Encyclopedia
Calvert, Leonard
the first governor of Maryland, whom we may designate as the “Roger Williams” of that state, on account of the position he took on the matter of religious liberty. He was sent to America by his brother, Cecil Calvert, the proprietor of the territory embraced in what became the state of Maryland. About two hundred Roman Catholic families accompanied him. The colonists landed at Point Comfort, Va., Feb. 24, 1634. Sailing up the Potomac, they came to an island which Calvert named St. Clements, of which he took possession ” in the name of the Saviour of the world and of the king of England.” Pursuing his way, he came to Piscataway, on the Maryland side. Here he had an interview with an Indian chief, and subsequently with others of the aborigines, with whom treaties of friendship were made; and the settlement was commenced under auspicious circumstances. The colony began its existence, as did that of Rhode Island, with a declaration of the broadest principles of civil and religious liberty. Christianity was established without putting the state under the control of any one denomination of Christians.
The new commonwealth became the asylum to which those in other parts of the country, especially New England, who endured persecution for conscience sake, fled. Governor Calvert erected a mansion at St. Mary’s, for the use of himself and those who might succeed him in office. When the monarchy was overthrown in England by the execution of Charles I, and the Commonwealth was set up in its place, it was not to be expected that the Roman Catholic governor of an English province would be suffered to remain in power. Calvert was displaced and a new governor appointed in his place. He died in 1676. See Belknap, Amer. Biog. ii, 372,380; Allen, Amer. Biog. s.v. (J. C. S.)