The Calvert family were Roman Catholics and had founded Maryland as a colony where Catholics and Nonconformist Protestants as well as members of the established Church of England could live together in peace.
Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore (1605–1675), had received the proprietorship that was intended for his father, George Calvert, the 1st Lord Baltimore, who died in 1632 at age 53, shortly before it was granted.
Cecil established his colony in Maryland from his home in England, (but sent his younger brother Leonard Calvert, (1606–1647) as first colonial governor, and as a Roman Catholic continued the legacy of his father by promoting religious tolerance in the colony.
He governed Maryland for forty-two years, though he never visited his colony in person.

In 1649, the General Assembly of Maryland, the decade-old colonial legislature passed the Maryland Toleration Act, also known as the "Act Concerning Religion, a law mandating religious tolerance for trinitarian Christians".
Passed on September 21, 1649 by the Assembly of the Maryland colony, it was the first law requiring religious tolerance in the British North American colonies.
The Calvert family sought enactment of the law to protect Catholic and other Trinitarian Christians who did not conform to the established Church of England.
Religious toleration lasted for approximately 40 years until it was revoked during the Protestant Revolution of 1689.
From 1689 until 1776, Maryland was officially Anglican.
The Calvert family were Roman Catholics and had founded Maryland as a colony where Catholics and Nonconformist Protestants as well as members of the established Church of England could live together in peace. Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore (1605–1675), had received the proprietorship that was intended for his father, George Calvert, the 1st Lord Baltimore, who died in 1632 at age 53, shortly before it was granted. Cecil established his colony in Maryland from his home in England, (but sent his younger brother Leonard Calvert, (1606–1647) as first colonial governor, and as a Roman Catholic continued the legacy of his father by promoting religious tolerance in the colony. He governed Maryland for forty-two years, though he never visited his colony in person.
In 1649, the General Assembly of Maryland, the decade-old colonial legislature passed the Maryland Toleration Act, also known as the "Act Concerning Religion, a law mandating religious tolerance for trinitarian Christians". Passed on September 21, 1649 by the Assembly of the Maryland colony, it was the first law requiring religious tolerance in the British North American colonies. The Calvert family sought enactment of the law to protect Catholic and other Trinitarian Christians who did not conform to the established Church of England. Religious toleration lasted for approximately 40 years until it was revoked during the Protestant Revolution of 1689. From 1689 until 1776, Maryland was officially Anglican.
Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore