Who established the colony of Maryland?

Who established the colony of Maryland?

• A. Lord Baltimore (Sir George Calvert)
• B. William Penn
• C. George Washington
• D. Roger Williams

Answer: (A)

This question asks who first opened the way for Maryland to become a colony—the person who conceived the project and obtained the royal authorization to establish it. Lord Baltimore, a title held by Sir George Calvert, is the one most closely associated with founding Maryland. He envisioned a haven along the Chesapeake for English Catholics and secured a royal charter from King Charles I to create a proprietary colony for his family. Although Sir George died before the settlement began, his position as the proprietor and the namesake of the colony meant that Maryland’s establishment is credited to him. His son Cecil carried out the actual founding and settlement in 1634 under the charter. For context, the other figures founded different colonies: William Penn established Pennsylvania; George Washington was a key revolutionary leader later; Roger Williams founded Rhode Island.

This question asks who first opened the way for Maryland to become a colony—the person who conceived the project and obtained the royal authorization to establish it. Lord Baltimore, a title held by Sir George Calvert, is the one most closely associated with founding Maryland. He envisioned a haven along the Chesapeake for English Catholics and secured a royal charter from King Charles I to create a proprietary colony for his family. Although Sir George died before the settlement began, his position as the proprietor and the namesake of the colony meant that Maryland’s establishment is credited to him. His son Cecil carried out the actual founding and settlement in 1634 under the charter. For context, the other figures founded different colonies: William Penn established Pennsylvania; George Washington was a key revolutionary leader later; Roger Williams founded Rhode Island.