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The historical coat of arms of the U.S. state of Maryland from 1876. One of the original British Thirteen Colonies, Maryland was founded by George Calvert, a Catholic convert. It was named in honor of Henrietta Maria of France, wife of Charles I of England. It was admitted to the Union on April 28, 1788, after ratifying the new federal Constitution. Although one of the smallest American states, it has a variety of climates and topographical features that have earned it the moniker of "America in Miniature". Sixteen of Maryland's twenty-three counties and its largest city, Baltimore, border the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay estuary.Illustration: Henry Mitchell; restoration: Andrew Shiva