Benedict Leonard Calvert 1679-1715

Benedict Leonard CALVERT, 4th Baron Baltimore 1679-1716

Biographical Note

Born at Woodcote Park, Surrey, second son of Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore, governor and owner of Maryland, which was forfeited and taken over by the Crown in 1688. He became heir to the title and family estates in 1681 when his elder brother died, and he dedicated much of his energy to achieving the restoration of Maryland to the family, petitioning the Crown and converting from Roman Catholicism to the Church of England. He was MP for Harwich in 1714. His petition for Maryland succeeded, but he died just before it was granted, and the title and property passed to his son Charles who became the 5th Baron.

Books

Calvert's library, together with that of "an eminent lawyer, deceas'd", was sold by retail sale in London, beginning 22 March 1717. No catalogue survives, but the sale was advertised in the Daily Courant and Post Boy.

Sources

• Alston, R. C., Inventory of sale catalogues ... 1676-1800, St Philip, 2010.
• Bickham, Troy O. "Calvert, Benedict Leonard, fourth Baron Baltimore (1679–1715), colonial proprietor." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.