History of the Bahamas

By 2005Emily

  • English, Bermudan religious refugees established first European settlement in Bahamas

  • The Company of Eleutheran Adventurers, founds the first republic in the New World, in order to colonize the Bahama Islands and claim them for Great Britain..

  • English Puritans known as “Eleutheran Adventurers” arrived here also in 1649 in search of religious freedom.

  • Colonization of New Providence Island began

  • Six Lord Proprietors of South Carolina were granted the Bahama Islands by King Charles II of England

  • The Lord Proprietors authorized construction of a fort/ city on the island of New Providence. The city, called Charles Town in honor of King Charles II, was renamed Nassau in honor of King William III

  • Captain Woods Rogers was named first Royal Governor of the Bahama Islands and restored order by ending the rule of pirates.

  • Construction of Fort Montagu begins at the eastern entrance to Nassau Harbor. Completed in 1742, it stands today as a tourist site

  • During the American War for Independence from Great Britain, eight colonial warships captured Fort Montague and Fort Nassau

  • Spaniards takeover the Bahamas, disgusted by pirate raids on their ships

  • In Treaty of Paris, Spain ceded Bahamas to Britain

  • In Treaty of Paris, Spain ceded Bahamas to Britain

  • The immigration of American Loyalists begins as they bring slaves to set up a plantation economy.

  • Slaves emancipated

  • The first telegraph underwater cable is laid from Florida to Nassau.

  • The Hotel and Steam Ship Service Act of 1898 provided the government support needed for the construction of hotels and subsidized steamship service.

  • Chalk’s Ocean Airways was founded to fly tourists and fisherman from Florida to the Bahamas.

  • The American prohibition of liquor brings an economic boom to the Bahamian economy, where liquor was legal and plentiful.

  • The Bahamian government transferred designation of Columbus’ landfall to Watling Island.

  • Aug 18, The Duke of Windsor (1894-1972), was installed as Governor of the Bahamas. He had served as Britain’s King Edward VIII in 1936. Edward continued as governor of the Bahamas to 1945.

  • Nassau becomes a hot spot for the jet-set rich and famous

  • US granted military test range, tracking station for guided missiles in Bahamas by Britain

  • Freeport established as free trade area, stimulated tourism, attracted offshore banking

  • Internal autonomy granted to Bahamas

  • Britain began negotiations for Bahamas independence

  • Bahamas became independent

  • At the Olympics held in Sydney, The Bahamas women’s track and field team wins the gold medal in the women’s 4×100 meter relay!

  • Sir Lynden Pindling, former prime minister, died; known as "Father of Independence"