Maryland,
One of the
United States, on the
central Atlantic coast, lies wholly north of the
Potomac River, which, forming the boundary-line that separates it from
West Virginia and
Virginia, gives the
State a peculiar form.
The State varies in width from about 5 miles near the
West Virginia line to 120 along the
Chesapeake Bay, which cuts the
State into two parts.
On the east it is bounded by
Delaware and the
Atlantic Ocean.
It is limited in latitude by 37° 53′ to 39° 42′ N., the northern limit being the famous
Mason and Dixon line, marking its division from
Pennsylvania.
In longitude it is limited by 75° 2′ to 79° 30′
W. Area, 12,210 square miles, in twenty-four counties.
Population, 1890, 1,042,390; 1900, 1,188,044.
Capital,
Annapolis.
Maryland is included in the grant of King James of
England to the
South Virginia colony......April 10, 1606
Capt. John Smith leaves
Jamestown to explore the
Chesapeake Bay, and discovers the mouths of the
Susquehanna, Northeast,
Elk, and
Sassafras rivers at its head......July-August, 1608
Maryland included in the second charter to
Virginia, which covered land from
Point Comfort along the coast north for 200 miles, and south the same distance, and “from sea to sea” (Atlantic to the
Pacific)......May 23, 1609
Royal license given to
William Claiborne, one of the council and secretary of state of the colony in
Virginia, by
King Charles to trade in all seas and lands in those parts of the
English possessions in
America for which there is not already a patent granted, and giving
Claiborne power “to direct and govern” such of the
King's subjects “as shall be under his command in his voyages and discoveries,” ......May 16, 1631
Sir George Calvert, Lord Baltimore, obtains from King Charles the promise of a grant of land now
Maryland, but dies before charter is executed......April 15, 1632
Cecilius Calvert,
Baron of
Baltimore in the Kingdom of
Ireland, son of Lord Baltimore, receives from King Charles a grant covering territory hitherto unsettled, having for its southern boundary the
Potomac from its source to its mouth, the ocean on the east, and
Delaware Bay as far north as the 40th parallel, following that parallel to the meridian of the fountain of the
Potomac......June 20, 1632
Virginians objecting to the grant to Lord Baltimore, the
King refers their petition to the privy council, who decides “That the
Lord Baltimore should be left to his patent, and the other parties to the course of law” ......July 3, 1633
Colony sent out from
Cowes in the
Isle of Wright by Lord Baltimore, under his
brother Leonard Calvert, to settle in
Maryland, arrives off
Point Comfort, Va.......Feb. 24, 1634
At
Point Comfort,
Governor Calvert has an interview with
Claiborne, in which he intimates that certain settlements of the
[
380]
latter on the
Isle of Kent, in
Chesapeake Bay, would be considered as a part of the
Maryland plantation.
After the governor had explored the
Potomac as far as
Piscataway Creek he returns to St. George's River, and, sailing up about 12 miles to the
Indian town of Yoamaco, makes a treaty with the tribe, and sends for the colonists, who arrive, take peaceable possession, and name the place
St. Mary's......March 27, 1634
Colony export a cargo of Indian corn to
England......1635
First legislative Assembly at St. Mary's......Feb. 26, 1635
Claiborne, having threatened the colony at St. Mary's, grants a warrant to
Ratcliffe Warren to “seize and capture any vessel belonging to the colony.”
Warren fits out a pinnace, with which he attacks two armed pinnaces fitted out at St. Mary's and under the command of
Thomas Cornwallis, and engages in a battle in the
Pocomoke, or Wicomoco River, which results in the death of
Warren and victory for the colony......April or May, 1635
Lord Baltimore commissions
Governor Calvert to call an assembly to signify to the colony his dissent to laws made by the Assembly in 1635, and propounding others for their assent......April 15, 1637
Governor commissions
George Evelyn as commander of the
Isle of Kent now subjected to
Maryland......Dec. 30, 1637
Assembly, including representatives from the
Isle of Kent, considers laws offered by the lord proprietor.
They reject them and frame others, which when sent to
England Lord Baltimore rejects.
Assembly meets......Jan. 25, 1638
By reference from the
King and proclamation in
Virginia, the claim of
Claiborne to the
Isle of Kent and
Palmer's Island is rejected in favor of Lord Baltimore......April 4, 1638
Lord Baltimore finally gives assent to the right of the Assembly to originate laws......August, 1638
Assembly meets at St. Mary's and enacts laws for the government of the province......March 19, 1639
Order executed by the governor and council to equip an expedition against the Indians of the eastern shore and the Susquehannocks......May 28, 1639
Nicholas Hervey commissioned to invade the territory of the
Maquantequat Indians......Jan. 3, 1640
Petition of
Claiborne to the governor and council to restore his property in the
Isle of Kent denied......Aug. 21, 1640
Act regulating measures, and adopting the
Winchester bushel as the standard......1641
Governor Calvert, returning to
England, appoints
Giles Brent lieutenant-general,
admiral,
chief magistrate, and commander of
Maryland in his absence......April 11, 1643
Governor Brent issues a proclamation for arresting the person and seizing the ship of
Richard Ingle, to answer the charge of treason in instigating a rebellion against the government in
Maryland.
Ingle arrested, but makes his escape......January, 1644
So-called “
Ingle's and
Claiborne's rebellion” occurs in
Maryland.
Of this rebellion little is known, except the destruction of the great seal of the province at St. Mary's in February, 1645, and the appointment of Edward Hill as governor in the absence of
Governor Calvert, who fled from the parliamentary party, probably to
Virginia.
At the restoration of the authority of Lord Baltimore, 1646, the insurrectionists carried away or destroyed most of the records and public papers of the province......1644-46
Governor Calvert organizes a military force in
Virginia and proceeds to St. Mary's, and regains that part of his province......1646
First mention made in the legislative journal of the upper and lower Houses of Assembly......1647
Recovering the
Isle of Kent,
Governor Calvert pardons all the inhabitants, and appoints
Robert Vaughan chief captain and commander of the militia and civil governor......April 18, 1647
Governor Calvert nominates
Thomas Greene as his successor......June 9, 1647
Miss Margaret Brent, administratrix of
Governor Calvert, asks from the Assembly a vote in the
House for herself, and another as attorney for Lord Baltimore; refused......January, 1648
New “great seal” for the province of
Maryland sent over by Lord Baltimore......Aug. 12, 1648
Governor Greene removed by Lord Baltimore, and
William Stone, of
Virginia,
[
381]
“a zealous Protestant, and generally knowne to have beene always zealously affected to the Parliament,” appointed......1648
Tolerance act, the first securing religious liberty ever passed by an established legislature, provides that “no person professing to believe in
Jesus Christ shall from henceforth be any waies troubled, molested, or discountenanced for, or in respect of, his or her religion, nor in the free exercise thereof within this province ...nor any way compelled to the beleefe or exercise of any other religion against his or her consent” ......April, 1649
Assembly grants Lord Baltimore power to seize and dispose of any lands purchased of any Indian, unless the purchaser could show a lawful title thereto from his lordship under the great seal......1649
Mr. Durand, elder of a Puritan or Independent church founded in
Virginia in 1642 (from
Massachusetts), and which was broken up and driven out by that government, obtains permission of the lord proprietary's government to settle with his people at
Providence or
Anne Arundel, now
Annapolis......1649
Commission granted by Lord Baltimore to
Robert Brooke, as commander of a county (Charles) “around about and next adjoining to the place which he should settle,” on the south side of the
Patuxent, with a colony he was transporting to
Maryland......Sept. 20, 1649
During the temporary absence of
Governor Stone,
Thomas Greene, the deputy governor, proclaims Charles II.
King, and grants a general pardon......Nov. 15, 1649
Settlement at
Providence organized into a county called
Anne Arundel......July 30, 1650
Act passed by the Assembly punishing by death and confiscation of property any compliance with
Claiborne in opposition to Lord Baltimore's dominion over the province......1650
A rumor of the dissolution or resignation in
England of Lord Baltimore's patents leads the Puritans of
Anne Arundel to refuse to send any burgesses or delegates to the General Assembly at St. Mary's when summoned......1651
Council of state in
England appoints three officers of the navy, together with
Richard Bennett and
William Claiborne, of
Virginia, a commission to “use their best endeavors to reduce all the plantations upon the bay of
Chesapeake to their due obedience to the Parliament and Commonwealth of
England” ......Sept. 20, 1651
Numerous hostilities in the past having greatly reduced the
Indian tribes in
Maryland, Lord Baltimore grants a tract of land at the head of Wicomoco River, containing 8,000 or 10,000 acres, to be known as Calverton Manor, to be reserved for the Indians......1651
Commissioners proceed to
Maryland and engage
Governor Stone and the rest of Lord Baltimore's officers to “submit themselves to the government of the
Commonwealth of
England” ; thus taking the control from Lord Baltimore......March, 1652
By proclamation of the
commissioners Governor Stone is reinstated as governor of
Maryland, which he assumes “until the pleasure of the state of
England be known” ......June 28, 1652
Treaty with the
Susquehannock Indians at the river of
Severn, ceding their lands from the
Patuxent River to
Palmer's Island on the west side of the
Chesapeake Bay, and from
Choptank River to the northeast branch, northward of Elke River, on the eastern side of the bay......July 5, 1652
Lord Baltimore issues instructions to
Governor Stone for strictly enforcing the submission of all the inhabitants of the province of
Maryland to his proprietary rights......Feb. 7, 1654
Governor Stone, by proclamation, declares that the province of
Maryland is under the government of
Oliver Cromwell,
lord protector of the commonwealth of
England,
Scotland, and
Ireland, etc.......May 6, 1654
Robert Brooke, commander of
Charles county, having been discharged by Lord Baltimore,
Governor Stone erects the county into the county of
Calvert......July 3, 1654
Commissioners Bennett and
Claiborne, hearing of the new orders and instructions from Lord Baltimore, come to
Maryland and make a second reducement of the province, appointing
Capt. William Fuller and others commissioners for governing the affairs of
Maryland......July 22, 1654
Captain Fuller and the other
[
382]
commissioners call an assembly at
Patuxent, it passes an “act of recognition” ......Oct. 26, 1654
Acts of the Assembly; one concerning religion, declaring that “none who profess the Popish religion can be protected in the province by the laws of
England. . .nor by the government of the commonwealth of
England, etc., but to be restrained from the exercise thereof.”
One making void the declaration of
Governor Stone requiring the people to acknowledge Lord Baltimore as absolute lord of the province......October, 1654
Governor Stone, hearing from
England that Lord Baltimore still retained his patent, reassumes the government and organizes a military force in county of
St. Mary's under
Josias Fendall, who seizes the provincial records, which had been deposited in the house of
Mr. Richard Preston, on the
Patuxent, during the revolution in July, 1654, and also arms and ammunition which had been stored in the house......January, 1655
With 200 men and twelve vessels,
Governor Stone proceeds by land and water against the Puritans of
Anne Arundel......March 20, 1655
People of
Providence having prepared for an invasion, a battle ensues between the Puritans and the “Marylanders,” of which it is said “of the whole company of the Marylanders there escaped only four or five” ; about fifty were slain or wounded.
Of the Puritans, two were killed and two died of wounds......March 25, 1655
A few days after the battle, four of
Governor Stone's men were executed out of ten who were court-martialled and sentenced to be shot; the others, including
Governor Stone, escaping sentence, but held as prisoners of war......March, 1655
Commission received from Lord Baltimore appointing
Josias Fendall governor of
Maryland......July 10, 1656
In the matter of the proprietary rights of Lord Baltimore in
Maryland, at this time under consideration in
England, the commissioners for trade report to
Cromwell's council of state favorably to Lord Baltimore......Sept. 16, 1656
Josias Fendall, arrested and imprisoned by the Puritans, takes an oath that he will neither “directly nor indirectly be any disturber to the government till there be a full determination ended in
England of all the matters relating to the government” and is released......Sept. 24, 1656
Lord Baltimore creates his
brother Philip Calvert one of the councillors to the governor of
Maryland, and principal secretary of his province.
November, 1656
Luke Barber appointed deputy governor in the absence of
Governor Fendall, who embarks for
England......June 18, 1657
Puritan assembly meets at
Patuxent......Sept. 24, 1657
Report of the commissioners for trade made Sept. 16, 1656, being favorable to the rights of Lord Baltimore, the
Puritan agents enter into a treaty with Lord Baltimore to give up their power in the province and give due obedience to his lordship's government; he agreeing especially “that he will never give his assent to the repeal of the law established in
Maryland, whereby all persons professing to believe in
Jesus Christ have freedom of conscience there” ......Nov. 30, 1657
First
Quaker missionaries appear in
Maryland......1657
Puritan party in
Maryland surrender their power to the governor......March 24, 1658
Governor of
Maryland asserts Lord Baltimore's title to the
Dutch settlements on
Delaware Bay, and demands the submission of the settlement, which is refused......1659
Baltimore county founded......1659
Fendall, proving inimical to Lord Baltimore, is removed, and succeeded by
Philip Calvert, who is sworn in at the provincial council held at
Patuxent......December, 1660
Charles Calvert, eldest son of the lord proprietary, appointed governor......1661-62
At the request of the Assembly, Lord Baltimore coins in
England (1661) a large quantity of shillings, sixpences, and pennies, which were put in circulation in the province by act of Assembly passed......1662
On account of excessive production, an act is passed prohibiting the planting of tobacco for one year ......1666
First naturalization act passed, admitting certain French and Bohemians to citizenship......1666
Boundary-line between
Maryland and
Virginia from
Chesapeake Bay to the
Atlantic Ocean established, and the true location of
Watkins Point on the bay,
[
383]
marking its beginning, settled by a commission;
Philip Calvert, of
Maryland, and
Edmond Scarborough, of
Virginia, appointed......June 25, 1668
Act to encourage importation of slaves......1671
George Fox visits the Friends in
Maryland......1672
A number of outrages on the people of
Maryland and
Virginia by the Indians; five chiefs of the Susquehannocks, captured in a joint expedition, are put to death by
Major Trueman, commanding the
Maryland forces, although they protested their innocence and blamed the Senecas for the outrages.
For this act
Major Trueman was inpeached by the House of Delegates, but escaped punishment......Sept. 25, 1675
Cecilius Calvert dies, and
Charles Calvert, third Lord Baltimore, becomes proprietary......Nov. 30, 1675
Thomas Notley appointed governor, to act as deputy in the name of his infant son
Cecil Calvert......1676
Government land-office erected in the province by the lord proprietary......1680
Ordinance promulgated by the proprietary limiting suffrage to freeholders or inhabitants of property......September, 1681
Charles, Lord Baltimore, reassumes personal government......1681
William Penn receives his grant to territory west of the
Delaware and north of
Maryland......1681
In the contest between
William Penn and Lord Baltimore,
Penn claims 39° as the “beginning of the parallel of 40°” ; and the
King and council decide that the
Maryland charter only included “lands uncultivated and inhabited by savages,” and that therefore the territory along the
Delaware was not included; that the peninsula between the two bays be divided equally, all east of a line drawn from the latitude of
Cape Henlopen to the 40th degree to belong to
Penn......November, 1685
Council of nine deputies, with
William Joseph as president, appointed by Lord Baltimore, govern the province during his absence in
England......1685
Deputies failing to proclaim William and Mary rulers in the province, a convention of Protestants (termed Associators),
John Coode at the head, assembles for the defence of the Protestant religion, and asserting the rights of King William and Queen Mary to the province of
Maryland and all English dominions......April, 1689
Associators move upon St. Mary's and the council abandons the State-house and provincial records to them.
President Joseph and the council retiring to a fort upon the
Patuxent,
Coode marches upon them with several hundred men, to whom they surrender, leaving the Associators masters of the situation......July 25, 1689
King William approves the motives of the Associators in taking up arms against Lord Baltimore's government, and authorizes them to continue in power......Feb. 1, 1690
Sir Lionel Copley appointed royal governor of
Maryland......1691
Immediately after
Governor Copley's arrival in
Maryland he summons a General Assembly at St. Mary's, which passes an act of recognition of William and Mary, and then overthrows equal toleration in the province, and establishes the
Church of
England as the State Church of
Maryland......May, 1692
On the death of
Governor Copley,
Sir Edmund Andros assumes the government until the arrival of his successor,
Nicholson......1693
Capital removed by law to
Providence, now
Annapolis......1694
Public post established from the
Potomac through
Annapolis to
Philadelphia, route to be covered eight times in a year, and postman to receive a salary of £ 50 sterling......1695
Annapolis incorporated by law, the government intrusted to eight freeholders, called “commissioners and trustees” ......1696
State-house destroyed by fire, and many of the records of
Anne Arundel county burned......1704
Royal charter of incorporation granted
Annapolis by
Governor Seymour......Aug. 16, 1708
Benedict Leonard Calvert, fourth Lord Baltimore, being a Protestant, the province is surrendered to him shortly before his death, which occurred......April 16, 1715
John Hart, proprietary governor, representing
Charles Calvert, fifth Lord Baltimore, and infant heir of
Benedict Leonard Calvert......1715
By resolution the lower House of
[
384]
Assembly declare that “the people of
Maryland are entitled to all the rights and immunities of free Englishmen, and are of necessity inheritors of the common law of
England” ......1722
Act passed for “the encouragement of learning, and erecting schools in the several counties of the province,” under which law a public free school was established at
Battle Creek, Calvert county......1723
A complete collection of the laws of Maryland, printed at
Annapolis by
William Parks......1727
First newspaper printed in
Maryland, the
Maryland gazette, published at
Annapolis by
William Parks......1727
Baltimore laid out on lands belonging to
Charles Carroll, by commissioners appointed by the legislature......1730
Agreement entered into that the boundary between
Maryland and
Delaware should be that fixed by the decree of 1685, and that between
Maryland and
Pennsylvania a line drawn due west, 15 miles south of
Philadelphia......1732
Charles Carroll, of
Carrollton, born at
Annapolis......Sept. 20, 1737
Legislature appropriates £ 7,562 to meet the expense of raising and equipping 500 volunteers for the great expedition against the
Spanish dominions......1740
Treaty concluded with the Six Nations by
Governor Bladen in conjunction with the representatives of
Virginia and
Pennsylvania, at
Lancaster, Pa., whereby, in consideration of the payment of £ 300, the Indians agree to relinquish all claims to territory within the boundary of
Maryland......1744
Town of
Frederick laid out by
Patrick Dulany......September, 1745
Assembly votes £ 4,500 to raise a body of men for an expedition against
Canada, June 26, and an additional appropriation of £ 1,100......November, 1746
Nanticoke Indians emigrate from
Maryland to
Wyoming, carrying the bones of their dead with them......May, 1748
Frederick Calvert becomes sixth Lord Baltimore by the death of
Charles Calvert......April 24, 1751
Lord Baltimore directs
Governor Sharpe to investigate as to which branch of the
Potomac is the source,
Virginia claiming the north branch and
Maryland the south......1753
Maryland frontier being subjected to incursions of the
French and
Indians from
Fort Duquesne (
Pittsburg, Pa.), the General Assembly convenes at
Annapolis and votes £ 6,000 to aid
Virginia in the reduction of the fort......July 11, 1754
Command of the forces engaged against the
French on the
Ohio given to
Governor Sharpe under royal commission......1754
Fort is erected at
Cumberland, and garrisoned with two companies as a restingplace for expeditions against
Fort Duquesne......1754
Two companies, under
Captain Dagworthy and
Lieutenants Bacon and Forty, march from
Annapolis to the western frontier......1754
General Assembly passes a law for the levying of troops, and providing a pension for those maimed in service......Dec. 24, 1754
After
Braddock's defeat, July 9, 1755, the borders of
Maryland and
Pennsylvania became one extended field of battles, murder, desolation, and panic......1755
Acadians, consigned to the province at their expulsion, arrive......1755
Act to raise £ 40,000 for erecting Fort Frederick and other forts and blockhouses on the frontier, and for a joint expedition against
Fort Duquesne......March 22, 1756
Governor Sharpe appoints a day of thanksgiving for the capture of
Fort Duquesne, and the Assembly grants £ 1,500 to the
Maryland troops who took part in the expedition......November, 1758
Frederick, Lord Baltimore, agrees to the appointment of the commission,
Messrs. Mason and
Dixon, who surveyed the line known by their name, and set up milestones: agreement made......July 4, 1760
Zachariah Hood, a merchant of
Annapolis, is appointed stamp distributer under the Stamp Act; arriving with his stamps, he is obliged to land clandestinely; his effigy is whipped, hanged, and burned, and he seeks refuge in New York.
The Assembly, prorogued from 1763, meets and protests against the Stamp Act, and appoints
Col. Edward Tilghman,
William Murdock, and
Thomas Ringgold delegates to the congress of deputies from all the colonies......1765
Frederick county court deciding the
[
385]
Stamp Act unconstitutional, a popular demonstration takes place, the “Sons of liberty” carry through the streets a coffin inscribed, “The Stamp Act expired of a mortal stab received from the Genius of Liberty in
Frederick county court, Nov. 23, 1765, aged 22 days” ......Nov. 30, 1765
Public officers in
Annapolis, urged by the people, treat the Stamp Act as a nullity......April 3, 1766
People of
Maryland enter into articles for non-importation of British superfluities and for the promotion of American manufactures......June 20, 1769
British bark
Good Intent, arriving at
Annapolis, a meeting of the Associators is held, and it is resolved that the cargo of English goods should not be landed......1770
Assembly attempts to diminish the amount of fees collectible by the public officials and established clergy, but is prorogued by the governor, who issues a proclamation fixing the old rates, and requiring the officers to receive the amount in money if tendered......Nov. 26, 1770
Frederick, Lord Baltimore, dying without an heir, bequeaths his proprietary to
Henry Harford, his natural son......1771
People aroused by the governor's proclamation, under the leadership of
Charles Carroll, elect the popular candidates
Messrs. Paca and
Hammond to the
House, and bury the obnoxious proclamation in effigy......May 14, 1773
Convention meets at
Annapolis, proposes an absolute cessation of intercourse with the mother-country, and nominates
Samuel Chase,
Robert Goldsborough,
William Paca,
Matthew Tilghman, and Thomas Johnson delegates to the first Continental Congress at
Philadelphia......June 22, 1774
Anthony Stewart, the owner of the brig
Peggy Stewart, having paid the duty on a few packages of tea included in the cargo, the people are excited by his act, and under advice of
Charles Carroll, of
Carrollton,
Stewart burns his vessel......Oct. 14, 1774
George Washington, present in Congress as a member from
Virginia, is nominated by Thomas Johnson, of
Maryland, to be commander-in-chief of the
American forces, and unanimously chosen......June 15, 1775
Convention of Maryland assembles and adopts the famous “Association of the freemen of
Maryland,” which becomes the written constitution of
Maryland for a year......July 26, 1775
“
Maryland line,” under
Col. William Smallwood, engage in the battles of
Long Island,
Harlem Heights,
White Plains, the storming of
Fort Washington, battles of
Trenton and
Princeton; they begin the year 1,444 strong, and are reduced to a mere handful at the close......1776
Batteries erected near
Baltimore and
Annapolis, and public records removed to
Upper Marlboro for safety in preparation for an attack by the
British under Lord Dunsmore......1776
James Wilkinson repairs to the camp before
Boston as a volunteer from
Maryland......1776
Convention assembles and unanimously orders the delegates to Congress to unite in declaring the colonies free and independent, reserving to the
State, however, complete internal sovereignty;
Charles Carroll, of
Carrollton,
chief advocate of this resolution, was on July 4, 1776, chosen a delegate; convention met......June 28, 1776
Declaration of Independence publicly read at
Baltimore, with acclamations for the prosperity of the
United States......July 22, 1776
Convention for framing a State constitution assembles at
Annapolis, Aug. 14, and completes its labors (constitution never submitted to the people)......Nov. 11, 1776
Continental Congress meets at
Baltimore......Dec. 20, 1776
Maryland line, under
Brigadier-General Smallwood, engage in the battles of
Brandywine and
Germantown, and are stationed at
Wilmington during the winter to protect
Delaware......1777
First legislature under the new constitution assembles, Feb. 5, and elects Thomas Johnson governor......Feb. 13, 1777
Count Pulaski raises a legion in
Maryland consisting of sixty-eight horse and 200 foot......1778
Maryland line active in battle of
Monmouth......June 28, 1778
Legislature votes officers of the
Maryland line who serve through the war, and their widows, half-pay during life, to
[
386]
commence after seven years pay voted by Congress......1779
Bill to confiscate British property passes both Houses......October, 1780
Maryland line, under
Major-General De Kalb, engage in the battles of
Camden (where
De Kalb was killed),
Cowpens, Guilford Court-house, Hobkirk's Hill, assault of Ninety-six, and
Eutaw Springs......1780-81
Maryland, to secure rights to Western lands, delays signing the
Articles of Confederation until, with other States,
Virginia cedes lands northwest of the
Ohio to the
United States in January, 1781;
Maryland delegates, John Hanson and Daniel Carroll, sign the articles......March 1, 1781
Officers of
Maryland line organize State Society of the Cincinnati at
Annapolis,
Major-General Smallwood president......Nov. 21, 1783
United States Congress meets at
Annapolis......Nov. 26, 1783
Washington resigns his commission as commander-in-chief, at the State-house in
Annapolis......Dec. 23, 1783
Delegates from
Virginia,
Pennsylvania,
Delaware,
New Jersey, and New York assemble at
Annapolis to consider the condition of the nation, and request all the States to send delegates to a convention at
Philadelphia the following May......September, 1786
James McHenry, Daniel of
St. Thomas Jenifer, and Daniel Carroll, delegates from
Maryland to the convention at
Philadelphia, sign the
Constitution of the United States......Sept. 17, 1787
Maryland adopts the
Constitution......April 28, 1788
Robert H. Harrison, of
Maryland, nominated associate justice of the Supreme Court......Sept. 26, 1789
John Carroll, D. D., consecrated bishop of
Baltimore, with jurisdiction over all the Catholics in the
United States, the first bishop consecrated in the
United States (Church,
Roman Catholic)......1790
The State, by law, Dec. 23, 1788, cedes to the
United States such district 10 miles square Congress may select for the
United States capital; the District of Columbia selected......1790
Thomas Johnson, of
Maryland, appointed associate justice of Supreme Court......Aug. 5, 1791
Act extending the right of suffrage and substituting the ballot for viva voce voting passed......Dec. 28, 1801
Legislature presents a sword and belt to
George Washington Mann, of
Maryland, one of two soldiers who planted the
American flag on the walls of
Derne,
Tripoli......April 27, 1805
Several associations formed in
Baltimore to encourage home manufacture and sale of domestic goods during the embargo against British vessels......1808
First number of
Niles's register issued in
Baltimore by
Hezekiah Niles......Sept. 7, 1811
Gabriel Duval, of
Maryland, appointed associate justice of the Supreme Court of the
United States......Nov. 18, 1811
Printing-office of the
Federal Republican, an anti-war paper in
Baltimore, destroyed by a mob June 22, 1812.
They attack the house of the editor,
A. C. Hanson, which was garrisoned, break into the jail, whither some of the assailed had been taken, and in the riot
General Lingan is killed and others left for dead......July 28, 1812
British
Admiral Cockburn with four ships-of — the line and six frigates plunders and burns
Frenchtown,
Havre de Grace, Frederickstown, and
Georgetown......March, 1813
Battle of Bladensburg, and capture of
Washington by the
British......Aug. 24, 1814
British advancing on
Baltimore under
General Ross are repulsed at
North Point,
General Ross is killed......Sept. 12, 1814
British fleet bombard
Fort McHenry......Sept. 13, 1814
Francis S. Key, of
Maryland, imprisoned on one of the British vessels, composes the Star-Spangled Banner......Sept. 13, 1814
Lancastrian school system introduced in
Baltimore......1820
Act passed abolishing the old division into hundreds, as fiscal, military, and election districts, and making an election district the jurisdiction of the constable......1824
Act passed for primary schools......Feb. 28, 1826
Ground broken for the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal by the
President of the
United States......July 4, 1828
[
387]
Ground broken by
Charles Carroll and corner-stone set for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, chartered 1827......July 4, 1828
Phoenix Company erect their shot-tower, 234 feet high, in
Baltimore.
Completed without scaffolding......Nov. 25, 1828
First public school in
Baltimore under law of 1827 opened......Sept. 21, 1829
Mount St. Mary's College at Emmittsburg, established in 1809, is this year incorporated as a college......1830
On death of
Governor Martin,
George Howard, first named of the executive council, succeeds to the office......July 10, 1831
National anti-masonic convention assembles at
Baltimore and nominates
William Wirt for
President of the
United States......Sept. 26, 1831
Roger Brooke Taney, of
Maryland, appointed
Attorney-General of the
United States......Dec. 27, 1831
Taney appointed
Secretary of the Treasury......Sept. 24, 1833
Hospital for the insane at
Spring Grove,
Baltimore county, opened......1834
Taney appointed chief-justice Supreme Court of the
United States......March 15, 1836
Legislature passes the famous internal improvement bill, subscribing $3,000,000 in State bonds to the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company, $3,000,000 to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, $500,000 to the
Maryland Crosscut Canal, $500,000 to the
Annapolis and Potomac Canal, and $1,000,000 to the Eastern Shore Railroad — in all $8,000,000......June 3, 1836
State convention irrespective of party meets in
Baltimore and adopts resolutions for revising the constitution......June 6, 1836
Constitution revised; governor to be elected by the people, council abolished, Senate reorganized, one third to be elected by the people every two years......1836
Convention of Whig young men, 15,000 to 20,000 delegates from every State in the
Union, meets at
Baltimore......May 4, 1840
Democratic National Convention meets at
Baltimore......May 5, 1840
Issue of State bonds reaches $16,050,000; deficit of treasury, $556,387.38......Dec. 1, 1840
State tax levied of 20 cents on every $100, afterwards increased to 25 cents......April 1, 1841
Maryland Historical Society founded......January, 1844
Whig National Convention in
Baltimore nominates
Henry Clay for
President......May 1, 1844
Morse magnetic telegraph from
Washington to
Baltimore completed......May 20, 1844
Democratic National Convention at
Baltimore nominates for
President James K. Polk......May 27-29, 1844
Act waiving the
State liens in favor of $1,700,000 bonds to be issued by the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company at par, with a guarantee that for five years after completion not less than 195,000 tons would be transported annually upon it, and a contract is made for the completion of the canal to
Cumberland......March 10, 1845
United States Naval Academy established at
Annapolis......1845
Rev. Charles Turner Torrey dies in State-prison under sentence for enticing slaves from the
State......May 9, 1846
State resumes the payment of interest on her debt at the Chesapeake Bank,
Baltimore......Jan. 1, 1848
Democratic National Convention at
Baltimore nominates
Gen. Lewis Cass,
United States Senator from
Michigan, for
President......May 22, 1848
Edgar Allan Poe, born Jan. 26, 1809, dies in Washington University Hospital,
Baltimore; buried in
Westminster graveyard......Oct. 7, 1849
Election riots between Democrats and Know-nothings......Nov. 4, 1849
Convention to frame a new constitution meets at
Annapolis, Nov. 4, 1850, completes its labors May 13, 1851; the constitution ratified by the people......June 4, 1851
Whig National Convention at
Baltimore nominates
Gen. Winfield Scott for
President......June 16, 1852
Whig National Convention at
Baltimore adopts the nominees of the
American party,
Fillmore and
Donelson, for
President and
Vice-President......Sept. 17, 1856
George Peabody gives $300,000 to found Peabody Institute......Feb. 12, 1857
Strike of the conductors and train men
[
388]
on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, militia called out; amicably settled......April 29, 1857
Constitutional Union Convention at
Baltimore nominates
John Bell, of
Tennessee, for
President......May 9, 1860
Democratic National Convention meets by adjournment (from
Charleston, S. C.) in
Baltimore, June 18, 1860.
On the 23d a large number of delegates withdraw, and the remaining delegates nominate
Stephen A. Douglas for
President.
The seceders nominate
John C. Breckinridge, of
Kentucky......June 23, 1860
Philip Francis Thomas, of
Maryland, appointed
Secretary of the Treasury......Dec. 12, 1860
A. H. Handy, commissioner from
Mississippi, addresses a meeting in
Baltimore on the subject of secession......Dec. 19, 1860
Secession flag raised and saluted with artillery on
Federal Hill,
Baltimore, but on the third round the cannon are seized and the flag pulled down......April 18, 1861
Attack on
Massachusetts troops in
Baltimore by a mob, several soldiers and civilians killed and wounded......April 19, 1861
House of Delegates rejects a secession ordinance by 53 to 13......April 29, 1861
United States volunteers under
General Butler take possession of the
Relay house on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad......May 5, 1861
General Butler, at the head of 900 men, occupies
Baltimore without opposition......May 13, 1861
Confederates invade the
State and occupy
Frederick, Sept. 8, 1862.
General Lee issues a proclamation to the people of
Maryland promising protection and assistance in regaining their rights.
On Sept. 10 the
Confederates evacuate the city, and it is occupied by the Army of the Potomac......Sept. 12, 1861
Battle of South Mountain, Sept. 14, and
Antietam......Sept. 17, 1861
State legislature unable to organize, many members being arrested on suspicion of treason......Sept. 17, 1861
Governor Hicks calls an extra session of the legislature “to consider and determine the steps necessary to be taken to enable the
State of Maryland to take her place with the other loyal States in defence of the Constitution and Union.”
The legislature meets at
Frederick......Dec. 3, 1861
Gen. Robert C. Schenck proclaims martial law in the west-shore counties......June 30, 1863
Issue at the
State election is emancipation, and the Union party divides on the subject into the
Union and Unconditional Union parties; the latter carries the election......Nov. 4, 1863
General Schenck arrests many persons suspected of treason, and suspends the Maryland Club and similar societies......1863
Every Union master allowed $300 for each of his slaves enlisting by act of Congress......Feb. 24, 1864
General Lee detaches a force for the invasion of
Maryland, which overpowers the
Federals under
Gen. Lew. Wallace in a battle on the
Monocacy River......July 9, 1864
Convention for framing a new constitution meets at
Annapolis, April 27; completes its work, Sept. 6; ratified......Oct. 12-13, 1864
[This constitution abolished slavery, and disfranchised all who had aided or encouraged rebellion against the
United States.
Home vote, 27,541 for, 29,536 against; soldiers, 2,633 for, 263 against; majority for, 375.]
Maryland Agricultural College established in
Prince George's county......1865
Fair held at
Baltimore for the relief of the destitute in the
Southern States; net receipts, $164,569.97......April, 1866
Peabody Institute formally inaugurated;
George Peabody present......Oct. 24, 1866
Legislature passes a very stringent Sunday law......1866
Johns Hopkins University incorporated......Aug. 24, 1867
New constitution, framed by a convention which met at
Annapolis May 8, 1867, which abolishes office of lieutenant-governor, ratified by the people......Sept. 18, 1867 [Vote for, 27,152; against, 23,036.]
New school law passed giving control of educational matters in each county to a board of county commissioners......April 1, 1868
State election in November, 1869, the whole Democratic ticket elected, and a legislature unanimously Democratic meets......Jan. 5, 1870
Legislature unanimously rejects the Fifteenth Amendment, and passes a school
[
389]
law vesting the supervision of schools in a State board, county boards, and school district boards......1870
State convention of those favoring the extension of the right of suffrage to women held at
Baltimore......Feb. 29, 1872
Democratic National Convention at
Baltimore nominates
Horace Greeley, by a vote made unanimous, for
President......July 9-10, 1872
State
Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry meets in
Baltimore, and makes a declaration of policy and principle......March 7, 1874
Public education act modified: Board of education to consist of the governor, principal of normal school, and four persons appointed by the governor from presidents and examiners of the several county boards......1874
James B. Groome elected governor by General Assembly,
Governor Whyte being elected
United States Senator......March 4, 1875
Foundation of the
Johns Hopkins Hospital, endowed with $4,500,000 by Johns Hopkins in 1873, is laid in
Baltimore......1875
Daniel C. Gilman installed president of the Johns Hopkins University......Feb. 22, 1876
Affray in the streets of
Baltimore; the 6th Regiment of militia being ordered out by
Governor Carroll against strikers on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at
Cumberland; the soldiers are stoned, and fire on the mob, killing nine and wounding twenty or thirty; the mob sets fire to the railroad station......July 20, 1877
Commissioners appointed by legislatures of 1874 and 1876 for boundary between
Maryland and
Virginia report......Jan. 16, 1877
Congress appropriates $25,000 for surveying a route for a ship canal between the
Chesapeake and
Delaware bays to shorten the distance from
Baltimore to the ocean by about 200 miles......1878
State convention of tax-payers held at
Baltimore to redress grievances and secure relief from taxation......Aug. 12, 1879
Celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of
Baltimore......Oct. 10-15, 1880
Henry Lloyd, president of the Senate, succeeds
Governor McLane, who is appointed
United States minister to
France......March 27, 1885
Public library, established by gift of
Enoch Pratt in 1882, formally opened in
Baltimore......Jan. 4, 1886
Sharp contest in
Chester River between the
State oyster steamer
McLane and a fleet of illegal dredgers; two schooners are run down and sunk and others captured......Dec. 10, 1888
State oyster steamer
Helen Baughman fights with the schooner
Robert McAllister, an unlicensed oyster-boat......Jan. 2, 1889
Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal wrecked by flood on the
Potomac, which also swept away the historic building known as
John Brown's Fort......June, 1889
In 1888
Virginia leased about 3,200 acres of oyster ground on
Hog Island to one
Lewis;
Maryland claims a right to the ground, but the national coast survey rejects her claim;
Governor Jackson proclaims the ground open to both States, and the
Maryland schooner
Lawson anchors on the
Hog Island grounds; the
Lawson is attacked, run down, and sunk by the
Virginia police-boat
Augustus, Nov. 27; harmony is restored between the States,
Virginia withdrawing her exclusive claim......December, 1889
Australian ballot law passed by Maryland legislature, and a high-license law enacted for
Baltimore......1890
Decoration Day made a legal holiday by act of legislature......1890
State
Treasurer Stevenson Archer discovered to be a defaulter to the amount of $132,401.25, March 27; is arrested at his home in Belair, April 10; is tried, pleads guilty, and is sentenced to five years imprisonment......July 7, 1890
Ex-Gov. Philip Francis Thomas dies at
Baltimore, aged eighty......Oct. 2, 1890
United States Senator Ephraim King Wilson dies in
Washington, D. C.......Feb. 24, 1891
Monument erected by the
State to
Leonard Calvert, first governor of the colony, at
Old St. Mary's......June 3, 1891
Charles H. Gibson qualifies as
United States Senator by executive appointment to fill place of
Senator Wilson, deceased......Dec. 7, 1891
Ex-Postmaster-Gen. John A. Cresswell dies at Belair......Dec. 23, 1891
[
390]
Charles H. Gibson elected by the legislature as
United States Senator to fill unexpired term......Jan. 21, 1892
Ex-Gov. E. Louis Lowe dies in
Brooklyn, N. Y., aged seventy......Aug. 23, 1892
Amendment to constitution in reference to judge of the
Supreme Bench adopted......Nov. 7, 1893
The single-tax in operation at
Hyattsville declared unconstitutional......1893
Massachusetts