The flag of Maryland consists of the family crests of the George Calvert parents, the Calverts and the Crosslands. George Calvert, the first Baron of Baltimore, requested a royal charter to settle the region that would become Maryland and was colonized by his son, Cecil. The black and gold design on the top left and bottom right are from the Calvert family line, George’s father, and the red and white design on the top right and bottom left is from the Crossland line, George’s mother. This is the only U.S. state flag to be based on English heraldry, and only one of four states not use the color blue. This flag was adopted on November 25th, 1904.