Charles Benedict Calvert was born in August,
1808, at Riversdale, the plantation of his
parents, George and Rosalie Stier Calvert.
A dedicated and progressive agriculturalist,
he was instrumental in the formation of the
Prince George's County Agricultural Society,
the Maryland State Agricultural Society and
the United States Agricultural Society. Calvert
was the prime mover in the establishment of
the Maryland Agricultural College, now the
University of
Maryland at College Park. He served three
terms in the Maryland House of Delegates and,
in 1861, was elected to the United States
House of Representatives. During his term,
he aggressively worked for the establishment
of a federal Department of Agriculture, a
goal that was realized after his death. Calvert
died at Riversdale in May, 1864.
Prince George's County: 