Charles Benedict Calvert

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Charles Benedict Calvert (August 24, 1808 — May 12, 1864) was a U.S. Congressman from the sixth district of Maryland, serving one term from 1861—1863.

Born in Riverdale, Maryland, Calvert completed preparatory studies at Bladensburg Academy of Maryland. His mother, Rosalie Eugenia Stier, was the daughter of a wealthy Belgian aristocrat, Baron Henri Joseph Stier (1743-1821) and his wife Marie Louise Peeters. Calvert graduated from the University of Virginia at Charlottesville in 1827, and engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock breeding. Calvert served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates in 1839, 1843, and 1844.

Calvert became president of the Prince Georges County, Maryland Agricultural Society and the Maryland State Agricultural Society, and served as vice president of the United States Agricultural Society. He founded the first agricultural research college in America (later known as the Maryland Agricultural College at College Park, and presently known as the University of Maryland, College Park) which was chartered in 1856. Calvert was also one of the early advocates for the establishment of the United States Department of Agriculture.

In 1860, Calvert was elected as a Unionist to the Thirty-seventh Congress, serving from March 4, 1861 until March 3, 1863, but was not a candidate for renomination in 1862. He resumed agricultural pursuits until his death in Riverdale, and is interred in Calvert Cemetery.

[edit] Reference

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

[edit] External link

• The Calverts and Stiers of Riversdale

Preceded by John Work Scott	President of the Maryland Agricultural College 1860 (acting)	Succeeded by John M. Colby
Preceded by George Wurtz Hughes	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 6th congressional district March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863	Succeeded by seat abolished