Chesapeake Bay Colonies

If you are interested in getting more information about Chesapeake Bay Colonies, you have come to the right place. You might have experienced the frustration of not being able to find concise information on the topic. This is why we have put together a little bit of information that will allow you to learn about the significance of Chesapeake Bay Colonies.

Surrounded by Virginia and Maryland, off of the Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. Around a 150 streams and rivers drain into this bay and there are many deep water ports that are situated on the bay including Baltimore, Portsmouth, Newport News, and Norfolk.

The Chesapeake Bay Colonies first European settlement was founded in 1607. In about 1608, Capt. John Smith had mapped the bay. On the northern end of the Chesapeake Bay, the colony of Maryland was founded in 1632. This happened when George Calvert was promised a colony north of Virginia by King Charles 1. However he died before he was ever able to see his new colony. His son Cecilius the second lord of Baltimore took over control of the colony and named it Terra Maria or Maryland which was taken from the king’s wife’s name in honor, Queen Henrietta Maria. Due to the fact that Lord Baltimore was unable to make the journey, he appointed his younger brother to be the governor of Maryland. His name was Leonard and he would become the first governor of Maryland. This is one of the earliest colonies on the Chesapeake Bay Colonies and would obviously grow to become what we know today as Maryland. If you are interested in learning more about the colonies of Chesapeake Bay, there are some great maps that are available that can act as your best resource for getting information.