Margaret Brent stood out in early American history for her audacity and self-determination. She never married but that didn't stop her from thriving in a world ruled by men. Instead, she became a successful businesswoman, trading in land and servants, and earned the respect of Governor Leonard Calvert, who put her in charge of his estate upon his death. (Witkowski) Although these accomplishments are both unusual and significant, Margaret is best known for being the first American woman to seek the right to vote. According to Lois Green Carrborn, the leading social and economic historian of the colonial Chesapeake region, Margaret was born around 1601 and eventually was one of thirteen Catholic children born in Gloucester, England, to Richard and Elizabeth Brent. Not much is known about her life until she emigrated to Maryland in 1638, so that they could practice their religion without penalty, along with her brother Giles and her sister. (Witkowski) It takes a tough woman to uproot her life to risk it. have a better one, without persecution. As a relative of Earl Baltimore, lord proprietor of colonial Maryland, they received the same generous amount of land as Maryland's early settlers. (White) Margaret quickly became good at business, profiting from lending money to new immigrants, importing and selling servants. and represent themselves in court to recover debts. At that time, the only way for a woman to own and manage land was if she were unmarried. Margret is known because she did not marry, which allowed her to be an independent woman. However, what sets Margaret apart most is that she was the first woman to seek the right to vote in the Maryland Assembly. When the Civil War broke out... middle of paper ...... internationally recognized as the leading social and economic historian of the colonial Chesapeake. She made an indelible contribution to the State of Maryland in her professional and personal calling as the preeminent historian of Chesapeake, Maryland.WHITE, PAMELA J. "Margaret Brent--Maryland's First Female Lawyer." University of Maryland Law Journal on Race, Religion, Gender, and Class 7.1 (2007): 11-13. Academic research completed. Internet. April 30, 2014.Pamela J. White is an Associate Judge of the Eighth Circuit Court in Baltimore City, Maryland. She has served as a judge on the court since February 8, 2007, and her current term expires in 2023. Witkowski, Monica C. "Margaret Brent (ca. 1601-1671)." Encyclopedia Virginia. Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, January 29, 2013. Web. April 30, 201Monica C. Witkowski is an independent researcher from Milwaukee, Wisconsin..