Skip NavRecord Of Antigua History Time-Line
Antigua time and events in history is a list of the historical moments and events on the island. An accurate account of the past 15 years is needed for continued population of the list, so if you know of any historic events in Antigua over the past 15 years, feel free to contact Anbanet and send us the information so they can be added to Antigua historical time line.
| Timeline | HISTORICAL MOMENTS & EVENTS |
|---|---|
| 1492 | Christopher Columbus arrived in the "Caribbean" landing on San Salvador, in the Bahamas |
| 1493 | Columbus sailed passed Waladli and named the island, Santa Maria la Antigua |
| 1520 | Don Antionio Seranno of Spain made a failed attempt to settle Antigua |
| 1624 | Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitt's and Nevis was taken under the protection of Great Braitain |
| 1625 | Earl of Carlise claims Antigua while living in Barbados |
| 1629 | Mr. Williams, a friend of the Earl of Carlisle, made a settlement attempt in Carlisle Bay Valley, Claremont |
| 1629 | an unsuccessful settlement attempt was made by French privateer, Captain d'Escambuc |
| 1632 | Edward Warner made a successful english settlement in Falmouth |
| 1646 | Antigua had a population of 750 inhabitants |
| 1663 | The village of Parham was founded by Lord Willoughby |
| 1666 | Antigua was invaded and occupied by the French |
| 1667 | Antigua was returned to the British by the Treaty of Breda |
| 1668 | The British passed act to build St. John's Harbour |
| 1672 | Building of two forts , Blake Island in Falmouth Harbour and Rat Island in St. John's |
| 1674 | Christopher Codrington came to Antigua with the latest sugar technology that made sugar the main crop on the island |
| 1685 | Christopher and John Codrington lease Barbuda to successive Condrington family members for almost 200 years |
| 1689 | Great Fort George was built as a place refuge for the population of Antigua which was 1200 people at the time |
| 1725 | Dockyard becomes the base for british ships patrolling the West Indies |
| 1736 | Prince Klaas was executed at what is now called the Recreation Grounds in Antigua |
| 1781 | Shirley Height Fort was ordered to be built by Govenor Sir Thomas Shirley |
| 1784/1785 | Horatio Nelson served at the Dockyard as Commander of the Northern Division of the Leeward Islands |
| 1834 | Aug 1st Emancipation from slavery |
| 1850 | Withdrawl of the British Military begins |
| 1854 | The 67th Regiment was the last to be stationed on Shirley Heights |
| 1860 | The British ordered the annexation of Barbuda and made it a dependancy of Antigua |
| 1870 | The Codrington's Lease on Barbuda comes to an end |
| 1889 | Closing of the Dockyard in English Harbour |
| 1890 | The British Naval withdraws from Antigua |
| 1918 | Wages and Labour Riots saw 2 people killed and 13 wounded |
| 1939 | The formation of Antigua Trades and Labour Union by President Reginal St. Clair Stevens |
| 1943 | VC Bird Senior becomes the president of the Antigua Trades and Labour Union |
| 1961 | Barbuda becomes a constituency Dockyard restored and opened |
| 1967 | Antigua acheives statehood and hosts its first Antigua Sailing Week |
| 1971 | The Sugar industry closes |
| 1974 | Andy Roberts and Vivian Richards make their cricketing debuts |
| 1980 | Antigua hosts its first Cricket Test Match at the St. John's Recreation Grounds |
| 1981 | Antigua receives Independence November 1st with VC Bird as first Prime Minister. |
| 1999 | VC Bird Senior dies at 89 |