Richard Ingle

Who was Richard Ingle?

Richard Ingle was an English colonial seaman and tobacco trader in the American colonies who took over the government of the colony of Maryland in 1645.

Most of the Ingle's background is unknown. He was born in England, possibly in London, around 1609 into a Protestant family that schooled him. He became a trader and ship captain. Ingle transported goods of Maryland traders from England and back and became prominent tobacco trader.

When the English Civil War broke out, Ingle sided with the Puritans. He fell out with the Catholic leaders of Maryland, and when the royalist governor Leonard Calvert seized his ship, he escaped.

Ingle returned in February 1645 with the ship Reformation and attacked the Maryland colony in the name of Parliament. He attacked the settlement of St. Mary's and imprisoned leaders of the colony. Royalist proprietary governor Leonard Calvert fled to Virginia.

Ingle took control of the Maryland government. Under Ingle's leadership, his men looted property of wealthy Roman Catholic settlers. Ingle claimed that he had a letter of marque to cruise the waters of Shesapeake and the permission of a new government in England. Local settlers regarded him as a pirate.