Lord Baltimore, born George Calvert in 1580, was an English politician and the first proprietor of the Maryland colony in North America. He was granted a charter by King Charles I in 1632, allowing him to establish a settlement that would serve as a refuge for English Catholics facing persecution. He envisioned Maryland as a place of religious tolerance, promoting peaceful coexistence among different faiths. The colony's capital, St. Mary's City, was founded in 1634, and Lord Baltimore's policies laid the groundwork for the development of religious freedom in the region, influencing future American values.