![[portrait, Charles I, King of England, Studio of
Anthony Van Dyke, c.1640]](/msa/mdmanual/01glance/images/charles1.jpg)
1608. Capt. John Smith explored Chesapeake Bay.
c. 1620. Earliest appearance in Maryland of European objects in archeological context.
1629. George Calvert, 1st Lord Baltimore, sails from Newfoundland to Virginia.
1631. Kent Island trading post and farming settlement established by William Claiborne, member of Virginia council.
1632, June 20. Maryland Charter granted to Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Lord Baltimore, by Charles I, King of Great Britain and Ireland.
The colony was named Maryland for Queen Henrietta Maria (1609-1669), wife of Charles I (1600-1649).
Charles I, King of England, Studio of
Anthony Van Dyke, c.1640 (MSA SC 1545-1099). Courtesy of Commission on Artistic Property, Maryland State Archives.
1634, March 25. Landing of settlers at St. Clement's Island (now Blakistone Island) (Maryland Day). Calvert party celebrates Feast of Annunciation (March 25); later purchases Indian land, and builds "Fort at St. Mary's City."
1634-1644. Leonard Calvert, governor.
1634/5, Feb. 26. First General Assembly (law-making assembly of freemen) met at St. Mary's City.
1635. Proprietary vessels clash with those of William Claiborne.
1635. A Relation of Maryland published by Jerome Hawley and John Lewger (London).
1636. Leonard Calvert House (later, Country's House), East St. Mary's, serves as state house and governor's residence.
1637. St. Mary's County first cited in provincial records.
1638. Assembly claims protectons of English law; Assembly and courts meet at John Lewger's St. John's.
1639. First elections in province for delegates to Assembly ordered by Governor Calvert on Kent Island, and in hundreds of Mattapanient, St. Michael's, St. Mary's, and St. George's.
1642. Kent County first cited in records of commissioner appointments.
1643-1644. Giles Brent, acting provincial governor.
1645. Ingle's Rebellion: Richard Ingle leads rebellion against proprietary government.
1646-1647. Leonard Calvert, governor.
1647/8, Jan. 21. Margaret Brent denied right to vote in General Assembly.
1647-1649. Thomas Greene, governor.
1649-1652. William Stone, governor.
1649. Governor Stone invites Virginia Puritans to settle in Maryland.
1649, April 21. Religious toleration law (An Act concerning Religion) enacted.
1650, April. Anne Arundel County created (Chapter 8, Acts of 1650).
1650, April 6. General Assembly divided into an upper and lower house.
1652, March 29. Parliamentary commissioners displace proprietary regime.
1654. Patuxent County (later Calvert County) formed by order in council.
1655, March 25. Puritans from Virginia defeated Gov. William Stone's forces at Battle of the Severn.
1656. John Hammond's Leah and Rachel, Or, the Two Fruitfull Sisters Virginia and Maryland published (London).
1657. Lord Baltimore reestablishes proprietary authority.
1657-1660. Josias Fendall, governor.
1657, Nov. 30. Lord Baltimore's claim to Maryland reaffirmed.
1658. Lower House votes to compose itself of four delegates per county, elected by freemen.
1658. Charles County created by order in council.
1659/60, Jan. 12. Baltimore County known to have been established by this date, when a writ was issued to county sheriff.
1660. Bohemia Manor established by Augustine Herrman.
1660-1661. Philip Calvert, governor.
1661-1675. Charles Calvert, governor.
1661/62, Feb. 18. Talbot County known to have been established by this date, when a writ was issued to county sheriff.
1663. Augustine Herrman, first naturalized citizen of Maryland.
1664. Slavery sanctioned by law; slaves to serve for life.
1664. Construction on Secretary's Office or Council Chamber (later van Swearingen Ordinary), St. Mary's probably begun by this date.
1666. Somerset County established by order in council.
1666. Assembly agrees to 1-year "stint" on tobacco growing, but Lord Baltimore vetoes bill.
1666. A Character of the Province of Maryland, by George Alsop, published (London)
1667. St. Mary's City incorporated.
1668/69. Feb. 16. Dorchester County known to have been established by this date, when a writ was issued to county sheriff.
1670. Voting restricted by Governor to planters with 50-acre freehold or property worth 40 pounds; officeholding restricted to owners of 1,000 acres.
1670. Authoritative map of Maryland (engraved, London, 1673) completed by Augustine Herrman.
1672. George Fox, founder of Religious Society of Friends, preaches in Anne Arundel County. Friends form Maryland Yearly Meeting.
1672. Cecil County erected from Baltimore and Kent counties by proclamation of Governor.
1676. Brick state house completed at St. Mary's City.
1676. In Lower House, Proprietor limits delegates to two per county.
1676-1679. Thomas Notley, governor.
1679. Philip Calvert begins construction of St. Peter's, largest brick structure in province.
1679-1684. Charles Calvert, 3rd Lord Baltimore, governor.
1679. Governor grants county courts jurisdiction over civil suits.
1681. Josias Fendall found guilty of conspiracy by Provincial Court, which fines and banishes him.
1682. Quakers begin building Third Haven Meeting House (completed 1684), Talbot County.
1683. Assembly passes Act for Advancement of Trade (town act).
1683, Labadist community settles at Bohemia Manor.
1683, May 15. Proprietor replaces headright system of land grants with "caution money" or outright purchase.
1684. Cambridge on Choptank River laid out by commissioners.
1684. Presbyterians under Francis Makemie build church at Snow Hill, first in colonies.
1684-1689. Council of deputy governors rules Maryland in the name of child Benedict Leonard Calvert.
1685, Aug. 31. Printing press of William Nuthead used at St. Mary's City by this date.
1689, July-1690, May. Maryland Revolution of 1689. Protestant Associators overthrow proprietary officers.
1690, May-1692, April. Interim government of Protestant Associators.
1692, April-1715. Crown rule; William and Mary declare Maryland a royal colony and appoint Sir Lionel Copley governor. Maryland governed as a royal colony rather than as a proprietary province.
1692. Church of England made the established church. Royal assent to establishment act given in 1702.
1693, Sept. Sir Thomas Lawrence, governor.
1693-1693/94. Sir Edmund Andros, governor.
1693/94. Nicholas Greenberry, governor.
![[photo, State House, Annapolis, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/25ind/images/statehouse/i003029b.jpg)
1694/5, Feb. Capital moved from St. Mary's City to Anne Arundel Town. Governor Nicholson lays out plan for capital city.
1694, Dec. Anne Arundel Town renamed Annapolis.
State House, Annapolis, Maryland, May 1999. Photo by Diane P. Frese.
1696. Construction begins on new state house and probably on St. Anne's Church, Annapolis.
1696. King William's School (later St. John's College) founded at Annapolis by Governor Nicholson and others.
1698. Monopoly of slave trade by Royal African Company abolished by Parliament; slave imports markedly increase.
1698. Kent County courthouse moves from New Yarmouth to New Town (later Chestertown).
1699-1704. Nathaniel Blackiston (or his appointee), acting governor.
? Copyright Maryland State Archives