ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. — The 1630s are one of the most important periods in Maryland’s extensive history, as this is when the colony was first founded. On Feb. 26, 1635, the first meeting of the General Assembly took place in St. Mary’s City, not long after the Ark and Dove landed.
The General Assembly primarily consisted of free men who also owned property, a small council and, most notably, Gov. Leonard Calvert. Since the colony was still so young, many of the eligible men were present at Maryland’s first General Assembly meeting.
Though limited records of the meeting are available in the present day, it was likely an opportunity for settlers to submit petitions and speak with each other while determining the beginnings of law in Maryland.
Feb. 26, 1635, marks the event that brought forth a record of self-government in Maryland, and it helped bring the larger community together by offering a session for settlers to voice their concerns.
Despite future changes to the way Maryland is governed, the first meeting of the General Assembly was a chance for the original settlers to voice their perspectives and build upon the new colony, and it laid the groundwork for the state of Maryland that we see today.
A one-body assembly to begin with, the General Assembly would eventually split into two chambers in 1650 to bring forth a Lower House and an Upper House. The assembly would continue to evolve over time, quickly becoming an integral part of Maryland’s legal framework.
Fun fact: The Maryland settlers were still using the Julian calendar when the original General Assembly convened, which ended the year on March 24. As such, the year was still 1634 from the Marylanders’ perspective when the first meeting took place, while modern Americans would consider it 1635.
The Maryland General Assembly In The Present Day
The Maryland General Assembly is a major political structure in 2026. With a House of Delegates consisting of 141 members and a Senate with 47 members, noteworthy areas of focus in 2026 include immigration and the economy. Meetings for the Maryland General Assembly are currently held in Annapolis, the state’s capital city.
The General Assembly has grown significantly over the last four centuries, and it all started on that fateful February day in 1635. To learn more about the Maryland Senate or House of Delegates, visit Maryland.gov.
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