Phillip Calvert
5th Proprietary Governor of Maryland, English colonial administrator
1620 CE to 1685 CE
Phillip (or Philip) Calvert, the youngest (?)
son of George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore and his second wife, Arabella, is the 5th Proprietary Governor of Maryland during a brief period in 1660 or 1661.
He is appointed by the royally chartered proprietor of Maryland, Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore, as a caretaker to replace Josias Fendall.
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Dr. Luke Barber, Senior, who had been Cromwell’s household physician, had been appointed to administer the provincial government of Maryland in absence of Fendall on his visit to England in 1657.
Fendall had returned on February 26, 1658, with an agreement from Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Lord Baltimore.
This agreement states that the government is definitely restored to the proprietor, Governor Fendall, as well as a new commission curtailing his power as governor, with Philip Calvert, a younger brother of Cecilius, as advisor.
As a result of reading the Articles of Agreement from Lord Baltimore on March 23, Captain William Fuller and the other commissioners formally surrender the Provisional Government to Fendall.
Lieutenant-General Josias Fendall, the 4th Proprietary Governor of Maryland, is criticized by the colony’s Proprietor, Lord Baltimore, for negligence at courts and for contradicting court orders; he soon has a falling out with Lord Baltimore and leads a bloodless revolution in 1660 whereby he and Captain William Fuller reorganize Maryland's government to resemble that of the English Commonwealth.
This rebellion is instigated at a meeting of the Assembly, which takes place at the residence of Dr. Thomas Gerard I, Esq.
On the tenth day, the Lower House sends a message to the governor and council, that they intend to be the highest court without being depended upon by the Upper House.
Many compare this act to the time when the Commons of England abolished the House of Lords and made themselves alone the Parliament of the realm.
In addition, this means that they want to be independent of the Proprietor.
Two days of conferences result with the two bodies sitting as one.
Maryland has thus returned to a unicameral legislature of earlier times.
Fendall accepts these conditions and tenders to the Assembly his resignation, as Governor under Lord Baltimore; however, at the same time he accepts from the Assembly a new commission.
He attempts to set up in its place a commonwealth in which the supreme power would be vested in a House of Burgesses.
Over this body the governor is to preside; but the House, retaining its speaker, is to have the power to adjourn and dissolve.
Secretary Philip Calvert protests these proceedings and asks permission to leave.
Fendall’s attempted revolution is easily frustrated, thanks to the fall of the Cromwell Government on May 29, 1660, and the return of Charles II (1630–1685) to England as King.
Lord Baltimore commissions his younger brother and Fendall’s former advisor, Philip Calvert (1626–1682), as Governor on June 24, 1660, and Charles II, commands "obedience to him".
The proprietor asks "that perfidious and perjured fellow, Fendall" to be arrested and forfeit his life.
However, the provincial court only issues an order to confiscate his estate and banish him from the province.
Subsequently, in response to a petition for mercy to the Governor and council, and although the Lord proprietor had specially given injunction not to allow him to escape with his life, he is pardoned, and his punishment reduced to disfranchisement and disqualification for office.