Benedict Swingate Calvert

Benedict Swingate Calvert (January 27, 1722 – January 9, 1788) was a planter, politician and a Loyalist in Maryland during the American Revolution. He was the son of Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore, the third Proprietor Governor of Maryland (1699–1751). His mother's identity is not known, though one source speculates that she was Melusina von der Schulenburg, Countess of Walsingham. As he was illegitimate, he was not able to inherit his father's title or estates, which passed instead to his half brother Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore (1731–1771). Benedict Calvert spent most of his life as a politician, judge and planter in Maryland, though Frederick, by contrast, never visited the colony. Calvert became wealthy through proprietarial patronage and became an important colonial official, but he would lose his offices and his political power, though not his land and wealth, during the American Revolution. Early life Calvert was born Benedict Swinket in England on January 27, 1722, the illegitimate son of Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore, proprietary governor of the Province of Maryland. His birth year has been variously given as 1724, 1730 and 1732, but the grave stone in the floor of the chancery of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Croom, Maryland gives the date of January 27 1722. His mother's identity is not known. H. S. Lee Washington, writing in the New England Historic Genealogical Society Register in July 1950, speculates that she was Melusina von der Schulenburg, Countess of Walsingham, the daughter of George I of Great Britain and his mistress, Melusine von der Schulenburg, Duchess of Kendal.