Caroline Eden

Early life

She was born Caroline Calvert, circa. 1745, daughter of Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore. She had an older brother, Frederick Calvert (1731–1771) who succeeded his father to become the 6th and final Lord Baltimore, and a sister, The Hon. Louisa Calvert.

Maryland the American Revolution

On 26 April 1763 she married Maryland's last colonial governor, Robert Eden (1741–1784).

Upon the death of her brother, Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore, the colony of Maryland passed to Frederick's illegitimate son, Henry Harford. Despite his illegitimacy, the people of Maryland initially supported Harford and welcomed him as their new Lord Proprietor, even naming Harford County, Maryland after him in 1773. However, Governor Robert Eden disputed Harford's inheritance, and in 1774 tried to claim a part of the estate on behalf of his wife Caroline.

Before the English courts could rule on the case, the American Revolution broke out. Caroline Eden would however lose her claim - Harford succeeded in winning his father's inheritance; the rents from the Calvert estates in Britain were awarded to Harford by Act of Parliament - the Estate Act of 1780. But in 1781 the new State of Maryland confiscated all of Henry Harford's estates and used their income to help finance the cash-strapped revolutionary government and its militia. After the war Harford made strenuous efforts to win compensation but without success.

Legacy

In 1773 Caroline County, Maryland, was named in her honor. The county was formed from land belonging to Dorchester County and Queen Anne's County.