Calvert, Charles (1637-1715), the third Lord Baltimore, was an Englishman who became proprietor of the colony of Maryland. He served as governor of the colony from 1661 to 1675. That year, he succeeded his father, Cecilius Calvert, as the colony’s proprietor. Because Charles Calvert was a Roman Catholic, the Protestants in Maryland were suspicious of his rule, and Calvert quarreled with the Maryland Assembly over the extent of his powers. In 1691, Maryland became a royal colony, and the English Crown began to appoint the colony’s governors. But Calvert kept his property rights until his death. In 1715, the Crown returned the charter to the Calvert family but retained the right to approve nominations for governor. Calvert was born in England on Aug. 27, 1637. He died on Feb. 20, 1715.
