FOUNDING OF MARYLAND (1632-1650) The founding of Maryland was due chiefly to the personal force of George Calvert, first Lord Baltimore, son of Leonard Calvert.

He was born near Kiplin, in Yorkshire, about 1580, and graduated at Trinity College, Oxford, 1597.

After making a tour of Europe he became the private secretary of Sir Robert Cecil, who rapidly advanced his fortunes.

He served upon several missions to investigate the affairs of Ireland, was knighted in 1617, and in 1619 succeeded Sir Thomas Lake as principal secretary of state.
In this office he began to revolve plans of colonization in America, to which his attention was directed as a member of the Virginia Company since 1609.

In 1620 he bought from Sir William Vaughan the southeastern peninsula of Newfoundland, known as Ferryland, and the next year sent some colonists thither.