Lord Baltimore Flag (U.S.)

Historical

Last modified: 2002-09-28 by rick wyatt
Keywords: united states | lord baltimore | baltimore | maryland |
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by Rick Wyatt, 27 June 1999

• Description
• Other Flags Influenced

See also:

• US Historical flags
• United States of America

The Lord Baltimore flag combines the black and gold family arms of the lords Baltimore, the colonial proprietors of Maryland, granted to the first Lord Baltimore - George Calvert in 1622.

This flag was used to represent Maryland from the 1600's until the Revolutionary War when the United States was born and a national flag was used. Through the years various banners were used to represent the state, although none was adopted officially as a state flag. The State of Maryland did not adopt an official state flag until 1904, and that flag incorporates Lord Baltimore's colors in two quadrants!

Rick Wyatt, 27 June 1999

The arms of Lord Baltimore figure in other flags of Maryland as well. On FOTW, this influence can be seen in the flags of Baltimore City and Baltimore County and in the seal of the Anne Arundel County LOB.

The flag of Calvert County, Maryland also features the Lord Baltimore flag as a background upon which is superimposed a green tobacco leaf running from the lower hoist towards the upper fly, tobacco being the major cash crop in the county.

Chris Pinette posted the flag of New Maryland, New Brunswick, which has similarities to the Calvert Arms, which is very loosely based upon the Lord Baltimore flag. And the Maryland Yachting Club (Baltimore) and Annapolis Yachting club also use, as part of their burgee, the Lord Baltimore Arms.

Phil Nelson, 30 June 1999