Aided by Robert J. Brugger, Maryland: A Middle Temperament, 1634-1980 (Baltimore & London: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1988).
1700 - 1799
1704-1709. John Seymour, governor.
1704. Construction completed on St. Anne's Church, Annapolis.
1704, Oct. 18. First Annapolis State House burned.
1706. Queen Anne's County formed.
1706. Justus Engelhardt Kuhn (d. 1717), portrait painter, arrived in Maryland.
1708, Nov. 22. Annapolis incorporated as a city (Chapter 7, Acts of 1708).
1708. The Sot-Weed Factor: Or, A Voyage to Maryland, by Ebenezer Cook (c.1665-c. 1732), published (London).
1709. Construction completed on second Annapolis State House.
1709-1714. Edward Lloyd (president of council), acting governor.
1710. Talbot Court House (later East Town or Easton).
1714-1720. John Hart, governor.
1715. Principio Iron Works, Cecil County, financed by English capital.
1715, Feb. Crown restored proprietary rights to Benedict Leonard Calvert, 4th Lord Baltimore.
1715, April. Charles Calvert succeeded as 5th Lord Baltimore.
1718. Catholics disenfranchised by Assembly.
1720-1727. Charles Calvert, governor.
![[photo, Robert Long House, 812 South Ann St., Fell's Point, Baltimore, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/bcity/images/i002537a.jpg)
1723. School and board of visitors in each county mandated by Assembly.
1727, Sept. Maryland Gazette, first newspaper in the Chesapeake, published by William Parks at Annapolis (until 1734).
1727-1731. Benedict Leonard Calvert, governor.
1729. Baltimore Town established by charter.
Robert Long House, 812 South Ann St., Fell's Point, Baltimore, Maryland, 1999. Oldest existing residence in Baltimore dates from 1765. Photo by Diane P. Frese.
1730. Sotweed Redivivus, by Ebenezer Cook (c.1665-c. 1732), published (Annapolis).
1731. Baltimore Company began ironmaking on Patapsco River.
1731-1732. Samuel Ogle, governor.
1732. Salisbury Town laid out by commissioners.
1732. Establishment of boundary line with three lower counties of Pennsylvania, which later became Delaware.
1732-1733. Charles Calvert, governor.
1733-1742. Samuel Ogle, governor.
1741. Oldtown on upper Potomac founded by Thomas Cresap.
1742, July 10. First Baptist church in Maryland established by Henry Sater at Chestnut Ridge, Baltimore County.
1742. Worcester County erected from Somerset County.
1742-1747. Thomas Bladen, governor.
1743. First Lutheran church in Maryland built under David Candler's leadership, Monocacy River.
1743. Maryland Jockey Club founded in Annapolis.
1744, June 30. Native-American chiefs of the Six Nations relinquished by treaty all claims to land in colony. Assembly purchased last Indian land claims in Maryland.
1745. Maryland Jockey Club organized first races.
1745. Daniel Dulany the Elder (1685-1753) laid out Frederick Town and invited German settlement.
1745. Assembly combined Jones Town and Baltimore Town.
1745, Jan. 17. Jonas Green (c. 1712-1767) revived Maryland Gazette.
1745, May 14. Tuesday Club formed in Annapolis.
![[photo, Dried tobacco, Mount Harmon Plantation, 600 Mt. Harmon Road, Earlville (Cecil County), Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/01glance/museums/ce//images/1198-1-07876b.jpg)
1747. Tobacco inspection law enabled Maryland to control quality of exports; established multiple inspection points to ensure export of only quality leaf, and set clerical and proprietary officers' fees.
1747, May 7-8. Reformed Lutheran congregation organized by Rev. Michael Schlatter in Frederick.
1747-1752. Samuel Ogle, governor.
Dried tobacco, Mount Harmon Plantation, 600 Mt. Harmon Road, Earlville (Cecil County), Maryland, October 2016. Photo by Sarah A. Hanks.
1748. Frederick County erected from Baltimore and Prince George's counties.
1750. Ohio Company established trading post at Will's Creek on Potomac River.
c. 1750. John Stevenson (c. 1718-1785) shipped cargo of flour to Ireland, first in an export trade that spurred development of Baltimore.
1752. John Moale (c. 1731-1798) sketched Baltimore Town.
1752-1753. Benjamin Tasker (president of council), acting governor.
1753-1769. Horatio Sharpe, governor.
1754. Fort Cumberland constructed by militiamen.
1755. Gen. Edward Braddock led campaign through Maryland to the west. French and Indians defeated Braddock's forces near Fort Duquesne. Indians attacked western settlers.
1755. French-speaking Catholics arrived in Baltimore from Nova Scotia.
1756. Assembly supplied funds for Fort Frederick, near North Mountain.
1762. Elizabeth Town (later Hagerstown) laid out by Jonathan Hager.
1763. First volunteer fire company, later Mechanical Company, formed in Baltimore.
![[photo, Mason-Dixon Line sign at Maryland-Pennsylvania border, U.S. Route 15 North near Emmitsburg, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/01glance/chron/images1700/1198-1-07107b.jpg)
1763-1767. Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon surveyed boundary line with Pennsylvania.
1765. Daniel Dulany, Jr. (1722-1797), denounced Stamp Act in Considerations on the Propriety of Imposing Taxes in the British Colonies (Annapolis).
Mason-Dixon Line sign at Maryland-Pennsylvania border, U.S. Route 15 North near Emmitsburg, Maryland, May 2015. Photo by Sarah A. Hanks.
1765, Nov. 23. Stamp Act resistance at Frederick, later known as Repudiation Day.
1766. Sons of Liberty organized in Baltimore County.
1767. Annapolis merchants sent Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827) to London to study painting with Benjamin West.
1768. Baltimore County seat moved from Joppa to Baltimore Town.
1769. Maryland merchants adopted policy of nonimportation of British goods.
1769. First smallpox hospital in colonies established by Henry Stevenson, Baltimore.
1769-1776. Robert Eden, governor.
1770-1772. Second Annapolis State House demolished (Chapter 14, Acts of 1769).
1771. First brick theater in America opened in Annapolis.
1772. Brothers John, Andrew and Joseph Ellicott erected largest flour mill in Maryland on Patapsco River.
1772. First Methodist house of worship in colonies, the John Evans House, built under leadership of Robert Strawbridge (d. 1781) in Frederick (later Carroll) County.
![[photo, State House, Annapolis, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/25ind/images/statehouse/1198-1-1107.jpg)
1772, March 28. Cornerstone laid for third Annapolis State House (Chapter 32, Acts of 1773).
1773. Assembly united Fell's Point and Baltimore Town.
1773. Maryland Gazette carried "Antilon" and "First Citizen" debate on officers' fees.
1773. William Goddard (1740-1817) began printing Maryland Journal and Baltimore Advertiser.
State House, Annapolis, Maryland, April 2005. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
1773. Caroline County erected from Dorchester and Queen Anne's counties.
1773. Harford County formed from Baltimore County.
1774. Catoctin Iron Furnace, Frederick County.
1774, April 19. Last colonial General Assembly prorogued.
1774, June 22. First Provincial Convention (an extralegal body) met at Annapolis, and sent delegates to First Continental Congress.
1774, Aug. Baltimoreans shipped cargo of corn, rye, and bread to people of Boston.
1774, Oct. 19. Mob burned Peggy Stewart in Annapolis harbor.
1774, Dec. Mordecai Gist (1743-1792) formed Baltimore Independent Cadets.
1775, March 22. "Bush Declaration" signed, Bush River, Harford County, patriots call for independence.
1775, July 18. Rifle companies under Michael Cresap (1742-1775) and Thomas Price departed Frederick Town to join Washington's army at Boston.
1775, July 26. Association of Freemen formed by Maryland Convention.
1775, Aug. 29. Council of Safety organized.
1775, Dec. Association of Freemen began recruiting troops.
1776. Colonel William Smallwood (1732-1792) organized First Battalion of Maryland (forerunner of Maryland Line), Captain James Nicholson commanded Maryland sloop Defence.
1776. Montgomery County created from Frederick County.
1776. Washington County created from Frederick County.
1776, March. Whig Club formed in Baltimore.
1776, March. Fort Whetstone, Baltimore, erected at later site for Fort McHenry.
1776, June 26. Departure of Robert Eden, Maryland's last colonial governor.
![[portrait, Samuel Chase, by John Beale Bordley, 1836]](/msa/mdmanual/01glance/images/chase.jpg)
1776, July 4. Declaration of Independence adopted in Philadelphia. Engrossed copy signed by Marylanders William Paca (1740-1799), Charles Carroll of Carrollton (1737-1832), Thomas Stone (1743-1787), and Samuel Chase (1741-1811).
1776, July 6. Maryland Convention declared independence from Great Britain.
1776, Aug. 14-Nov. 11. Constitutional Convention of 1776 (meeting of Ninth Provincial Convention).
1776, Aug. 27. Maryland soldiers fought at Battle of Long Island (under Mordecai Gist (1743-1792) fought crucial delaying action at Gowanus Creek); continued to engage the British at later battles, including White Plains, and Harlem Heights.
Samuel Chase (1741-1811), by John Beale Bordley, 1836. (MSA SC 1545-1115). Courtesy of Commission on Artistic Property, Maryland State Archives. Chase was one of four Maryland signers of the Declaration of Independence.
1776, Nov. 3. Declaration of Rights (Maryland's Bill of Rights) adopted by Ninth Provincial Convention. Church of England disestablished.
1776, Nov. 8. First State Constitution adopted by Ninth Provincial Convention.
1776, Dec. 20-1777, Feb. 27. Continental Congress met in Baltimore at Henry Fite's House.
1777, Feb. 5. First General Assembly elected under State Constitution of 1776 met at Annapolis.
![[photo, Bust of Thomas Johnson, City Hall, Frederick, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/37mun/frederick/images/i006201b.jpg)
1777, March 21. Inauguration of Thomas Johnson (1732-1819), first governor elected by General Assembly. Council of Safety disbanded.
1777, Sept. 11. Maryland soldiers fought at Battle of Brandywine in Pennsylvania.
1777-1779. Thomas Johnson, governor.
1778. Count Casimir Pulaski (1745-1779) raised independent troops, Baltimore.
1779. Maryland Anglicans referred to their church as Protestant Episcopal Church.
Bust of Thomas Johnson in front of City Hall, Frederick, Maryland, October 2001. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
![[photo, Baron DeKalb statue, by Ephraim Keyser, State House grounds, Annapolis, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/01glance/images/i005005a.jpg)
1779-1782. Thomas Sim Lee, governor.
1780. Baltimore became port of entry.
1780, Aug. 16. In South Carolina, Maryland soldiers fought at Battle of Camden.
Statue of Baron Johann DeKalb, by Ephraim Keyser, State House grounds, Annapolis, Maryland, June 2000. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
Baron DeKalb (1721-1780) led the Maryland Line at the
Battle of Camden, South Carolina, August 16, 1780. He died at Camden on August 19, 1780, from wounds received in that battle.
1781, Jan. 17. Maryland soldiers fought and, under John Eager Howard (1752-1827), played decisive role at Battle of Cowpens in South Carolina.
1781, Feb. 2. Property of Loyalists and British subjects confiscated.
1781, March 1. Maryland ratified, and thereby made effective, the Articles of Confederation.
1781, March 15. In North Carolina, Maryland soldiers fought at Battle of Guilford Courthouse.
1781, Sept. 8. Maryland soldiers fought at Battle of Eutaw Springs in South Carolina.
1781, Sept. 17. American troops embarked from Fells Point, Baltimore, and sailed to Yorktown.
1781, Sept. 21. Encamped at King William's School, French troops sailed from Annapolis to Yorktown.
1781, Nov. 5. John Hanson (1721-1783) elected President of the United States in Congress Assembled.
1782. Washington College (formerly Kent Academy) established at Chestertown.
1782-1785. William Paca, governor.
1783. Freemasons, meeting at Talbot Court House, formed Maryland Grand Lodge.
1783, Nov. 26-1784, Aug. 19. Annapolis served as capital to newly forming American nation when Continental Congress met in the State House.
1783, Dec. 23. George Washington resigned commission as commander in chief of Continental Army at State House in Annapolis.
1784. Potomac Company (Patowmack Company) chartered by Maryland and Virginia.
1784. John Frederick Amelung (1741-1798) and party established New Bremen glassworks, Frederick County.
1784, Jan. 14. Treaty of Paris, ending Revolutionary War, ratified by Congress at Annapolis.
1784, June 24. Edward Warren, Baltimore, made first balloon ascension in United States aboard balloon designed by Peter Carnes, Bladensburg.
1784, Dec. Methodist Christmas Conference, Baltimore, established Methodist Episcopal Church in America.
1784, Dec. 30. St. John's College established at Annapolis. General Assembly designated it, with Washington College, as University of Maryland.
1785. German Evangelical Reformed congregation under Philip William Otterbein built United Brethren Church, Baltimore.
1785, March 28. Mt. Vernon Compact, an agreement on navigation and fishing in the tidewaters of the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay, negotiated and signed by Maryland Commissioners Thomas Stone, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, and Samuel Chase, and Virginia Commissioners.
![[photo, Capt. John O'Donnell statue (1980), by Tylden Streett, O'Donnell Square. Canton, Baltimore, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/01glance/monuments/images/1198-1-2307.jpg)
1785, Aug. China trade began with John O'Donnell's arrival at Baltimore with cargo from Canton, China.
1785-1788. William Smallwood, governor.
1786. Matthias Bartgis (1756-1825) began newspaper publishing in Frederick.
1786, March 12. Mt. Vernon Compact ratified by Maryland.
1786, Sept. 11-14. Annapolis Convention of delegates from several states met at Mann's Tavern, Annapolis, to discuss revisions to Articles of Confederation. Maryland sent no representatives.
Capt. John O'Donnell statue (1980), by Tylden Streett, O'Donnell Square. Canton, Baltimore, Maryland, July 2007. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
1787. Toll roads connecting Baltimore with Frederick, Westminster, Hanover, and York authorized by General Assembly.
1787. Friends [Quaker] Yearly Meeting, Baltimore, condemned slavery.
1787, Sept. 17. U.S. Constitution signed by Marylanders Daniel Carroll, James McHenry, and Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, at Philadelphia.
1787, Nov. 29. Luther Martin's report, The Genuine Information, criticized proposed U.S. Constitution, including its omission of a bill of rights.
1787, Dec. Cokesbury College, Abingdon, opened by Methodists.
1787, Dec. Steamboat launched by James Rumsey (1743-1792) on Potomac River near Shepherdstown, Virginia.
"James Rumsey's Boat" memorial, commemorating 1787 launching of first steamboat on Potomac River at Shepherdstown, Virginia, by James Rumsey (born in Cecil County, Maryland), October 2007. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
1788, April 28. Maryland Convention ratified U.S. Constitution, making Maryland the seventh state to do so. Convention adjourned without recommending amendments.
1788, May 1. Parade and festival (following ratification of federal constitution) gave name to Federal Hill, Baltimore.
1788-1791. John Eager Howard, governor.
1789. Allegany County created from Washington County.
1789. Georgetown College founded by John Carroll (1735-1815).
1789. Maryland Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery and the Relief of Poor Negroes and Others Unlawfully Held in Bondage formed at Baltimore.
1789, Nov. 6. Pope Pius VI appointed John Carroll as first Catholic bishop in United States.
1789, Dec. 19. Maryland ratified federal Bill of Rights, first ten amendments to U.S. Constitution. On same day, Maryland also ratified what later became 27th Amendment to U.S. Constitution.
1790. Easton incorporated.
1790, May 11. Easton Maryland Herald and Eastern Shore Intelligencer, first newspaper on Eastern Shore, published by James Cowan.
Archbishop John Carroll (1735-1815) Bicentennial Memorial (1976), by Felix de Weldon (1907-2003), on southside of Duvall Wing, Prince George's County Courthouse, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, October 2009. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
1790, July. Stewart Herbert began printing Elizabeth Town (now Hagerstown) Washington Spy, first newspaper west of Blue Ridge Mountains.
1790, Aug. 15. By papal direction, Bishop Charles Walmsley consecrated John Carroll as bishop of Baltimore, St. Mary's Chapel of Lulworth Castle, Dorset, England.
1791. Benjamin Banneker published almanac.
1791, Dec. 19. Maryland ceded land for federal District of Columbia.
1791-1792. George Plater, governor.
1792. Courthouse opened at Queen Anne's County seat, Centreville.
1792. African Americans formed Sharp Street Methodist Church, Baltimore.
1792-1794. Thomas Sim Lee (Federalist), governor.
1793. Refugees from Haitian slave uprising arrived in Baltimore.
1794. First of many yellow fever epidemics struck Baltimore.
1794, Jan. 21. Baltimore Equitable Society, first fire insurance company in Maryland, formed.
1794, Dec. 26. Maryland ratified 11th Amendment to U.S. Constitution.
1794-1797. John H. Stone (Federalist), governor.
1795. Bank of Baltimore established.
1795. Federal government sited post office at Cumberland.
1795, May 19. Johns Hopkins (1795-1873), financier and philanthropist, founder of The Johns Hopkins Hospital and The Johns Hopkins University, born in Whites Hall, Gambrills, Anne Arundel County.
1796. Maryland law forbade import of slaves for sale, permitted voluntary slave emancipation.
1796. Baltimore City incorporated.
1797, Sept. David Stodder's shipyard, Harris Creek, Baltimore, launched U.S. Frigate Constellation.
1797-1798. John Henry (Federalist), governor.
1798-1801. Benjamin Ogle (Federalist), governor.
1799. Construction began on Fort McHenry, Baltimore, named for James McHenry (1753-1816), Secretary of War, 1796-1800.
1799. Alexander Martin established Baltimore American and Daily Advertiser.
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