Charles Benedict Calvert

Charles Benedict Calvert. He was a prominent Maryland planter, politician, and pioneering agricultural reformer in the mid-19th century. A direct descendant of the colonial proprietors, he is best remembered as the principal founder of the Maryland Agricultural College, which later evolved into the University of Maryland, College Park. His work in Congress and through agricultural societies significantly advanced scientific farming and public education in the United States.

Early life and education

Born at the family estate of Riversdale in Prince George's County, Maryland, he was the son of George Calvert, a prominent planter and descendant of Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. He received his early education through private tutors before attending the University of Virginia, though he did not graduate. His upbringing on a large tobacco and grain plantation immersed him in the challenges of Southern agriculture. Following his father's death in 1838, he inherited Riversdale and actively managed its operations, seeking to implement more efficient and scientific methods.

Agricultural reform and advocacy

Dissatisfied with the depleting practices of tobacco farming, Calvert became a leading advocate for scientific agriculture and crop diversification. He was a founding member and president of the Prince George's County Agricultural Society and played a key role in the Maryland State Agricultural Society. He experimented with new crops like wheat and clover, improved livestock breeds, and promoted the use of guano and plaster as fertilizers. His advocacy extended to publishing articles and delivering lectures, arguing that the future of the South depended on modernizing its agricultural economy. He was also a delegate to the landmark National Agricultural Convention in Washington, D.C. in 1852.

Founding of the Maryland Agricultural College

Calvert's most enduring achievement was his tireless campaign to establish a public college dedicated to agricultural education. Inspired by the land-grant college movement and the success of institutions like Yale's Sheffield Scientific School, he lobbied the Maryland General Assembly for support. In 1856, he successfully secured a charter and, crucially, donated both land and funds from his own Riversdale estate. The Maryland Agricultural College opened its doors near College Park, Maryland in 1859, with Calvert serving as its first president of the Board of Trustees. This institution would later receive land-grant status and become the cornerstone of the University of Maryland, College Park.

Political career and public service

As a Unionist opposed to secession, Calvert was elected as a U.S. Representative from Maryland's 6th congressional district in 1860, serving a single term from 1861 to 1863 during the tumultuous opening years of the American Civil War. In the 37th United States Congress, he served on the Committee on Agriculture and was a vocal supporter of the Morrill Act of 1862, which provided federal land for the establishment of agricultural and mechanical colleges. His political career was cut short by failing health and the intense political divisions in border state Maryland. He also served as a director of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and was involved in local banking.

Legacy and honors

Charles Benedict Calvert died at his Riversdale home in 1864. His primary legacy is the University of Maryland, College Park, a premier public research university that directly descends from the college he founded. The university's Calvert Hall and the surrounding Calvert County, Maryland are named in honor of his family. His advocacy for applying science to farming helped transform American agriculture in the antebellum and post-war periods. The Riversdale mansion is now a National Historic Landmark operated as a museum, preserving the history of the Calvert family and his contributions to Maryland. Category:1808 births Category:1864 deaths Category:American agriculturists Category:People from Prince George's County, Maryland Category:University of Maryland, College Park