Charles Calvert (governor)

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Charles Calvert (* 1688 in England , † February 2, 1734 in Annapolis , Province of Maryland ) was a British colonial governor of the Province of Maryland.

Life

Charles Calvert was born under the name Charles Calvert Lazenby. His parents have not yet been clearly identified. However, he appears to have been the illegitimate son of a member of the Calvert family. There is speculation that Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore could have been his father. However, another family member could have been his father. Charles served in the English and British Army, where he rose to the rank of captain in the Grenadier Guards . An officer position in this prestigious regiment cost a lot of money, which he probably received from his wealthy relatives, the Calverts. In 1720 he was appointed new governor of the Province of Maryland by Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore . The colony had only recently come back into possession of the Calvert family after they had lost control of it after the Glorious Revolution of 1688. Charles Calvert was a loyal supporter of both the British Crown and the Calvert family. In his tenure, which lasted until 1727, he tried to balance the various religious groups in the colony. At the same time he tried to strike a balance between the interests of the colonists and the Calverts as owners of the colony. In addition, he also tried to achieve a peaceful relationship with the Indians. In 1727, Charles Calvert was replaced by Benedict Leonard Calvert as governor of Maryland. He then held the office of Surveyor General for the western part of the colony until 1733 . He was also a member of the colonial parliament. He also held a number of church offices as a member of the Church of England . During his time in Maryland he acquired large estates and made considerable wealth. He was married to the wealthy heiress Rebecca Gerard (1706–1735) since 1722. The couple had three children, two of whom died as children. The daughter Elizabeth later married Benedict Swingate Calvert (1722–1788), a son of Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore.

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personal data
SURNAME Calvert, Charles
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British colonial governor of the Province of Maryland
DATE OF BIRTH 1688
PLACE OF BIRTH England
DATE OF DEATH February 2, 1734
Place of death Annapolis , Province of Maryland