Maryland (Liberia): Polity Style: 1834-1857 - Archontology
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Maryland (Liberia): Polity Style: 1834-1857

22 Nov 1833 An Ordinance for the Temporary government of the territory of the Maryland State Colonization Society in Africa, called Maryland in Liberia is approved, meeting of the Board of Managers of the Maryland State Colonization Society, Baltimore, Maryland, United States (Papers of Maryland Colonization Society, Reel 1, pp. 152-168)
13 Feb 1834 deed of purchase of land from three local rulers is concluded, Cape Palmas (Papers of Maryland Colonization Society, Reel 1, pp. 190-195)
13 Feb 1834 - 29 May 1854 Maryland in Liberia
3 Feb 1841 government of Maryland in Liberia is proclaimed sovereign and independent in accordance with an ordinance adopted by the Maryland State Colonization Society (Maryland Colonization Journal, No. 50, 15 Apr 1841, p. 201) [1]
31 Jan 1853 establishment of independent government is approved at a referendum (Papers of Maryland Colonization Society, Reel 24, p. 704)
14 Feb 1854 Articles of Agreement between the Maryland State Colonization Society and the Commissioners of Maryland in Liberia are signed 14 Feb 1854, Baltimore, Maryland, United States, meeting of the Board of Managers (Papers of Maryland Colonization Society, Reel 1, p. 598)
29 May 1854 Maryland in Liberia is proclaimed a free, sovereign, and independent state under the name of Commonwealth of Maryland in Liberia in accordance with a Constitution passed by the Constitutional Convention on 29 Mar 1853, "solemnly and formally adopted" at a referendum on 29 May 1854 (Maryland Colonization Journal, Feb 1856, No. 9, p. 133; MSCS Annual Report 1856, pp. 23-34; Papers of Maryland Colonization Society, Reel 24, fl. 883-899)
29 May 1854 - 25 Apr 1857 State of Maryland in Liberia [2]
3 Mar 1857 government of the State of Maryland in Liberia is dissolved in accordance with a Petition for and Terms of County Annexation of Maryland in Liberia to the Republic, signed by the Commissioners of Maryland in Liberia at Harper, 3 Mar 1857 (Maryland Colonization Journal, May 1857, No. 24, pp. 375-377)
25 Apr 1857 State of Maryland in Liberia is admitted as a county of the Republic of Liberia in accordance with an act passed by the Legislature of Liberia in Apr 1857 and approved by the President of the Republic on 25 Apr 1857 (Liberia Statute Laws 1848-1879, p. 236)

[1] Full title: A Declaratory Ordinance Touching the sovereignty of Maryland in Liberia.
[2] The Constitution of 1853 established a polity under "the name of Commonwealth of Maryland in Liberia" (preamble), but also refers to "the State of Maryland in Liberia'.