1493
Discovery of the New World
Christopher Columbus sights the Virgin Islands in 1493 on his second voyage to the Americas. He names them “Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Vírgenes” (Saint Ursula and her 11,000 Virgins) after the legend of the British Christian Saint, St Ursula. Thankfully, the name is shortened to Las Vírgenes (The Virgins).
1500's
The islands are claimed by the Spanish Empire but not settled. The islands become a favourite hideout for pirates and the English, Dutch, French, Spanish and Danish compete to control the region.
1648
The Dutch establish a permanent settlement on the largest island (Santa Ana), calling it "Tor Tholen" (New Tholen). Copper was first discovered on Virgin Gorda by the Dutch, but it was not exploited successfully until much later.
1672 - 1834
The British captured the island from the Dutch, altering the name to its present day form of Tortola. By 1680 they had also taken Virgin Gorda and Anegada. With the introduction of cotton & sugarcane, the islands became a plantation economy using African slave labour. In 1807 the trade in slaves was abolished and at last, the abolition of slavery came on 1 August 1834, celebrated to this day by a three day public holiday on the first Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in August.
1884-1947
1884 Fredrick Augustus Pickering, the first British Virgin Islander was appointed as President. 1901 the Legislative Council was formally dissolved and the islands were administered through the Leeward Islands. In 1917, the USA paid $25M to Denmark for St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix and re-named them the United States Virgin Islands.
1867
The Sinking of RMS Rhone
On 29th October, the 310’ Royal Mail Steamship was anchored off Peter Island during a hurricane. Fearing being driven onshore, Captain Robert F. Wooley made for the open sea during the eye of the storm. At full steam between Salt Island and Dead Chest, the hurricane then whipped from the south, driving the Rhone into Black Rock Point. The ship split in two and cold seawater hitting the blazing boilers caused an explosion. The ship sank swiftly and only 23 crew members survived the wreck.
1970s
to present day
The BVI’s fortunes improved dramatically with the advent of the offshore financial services industry in the 70s and the growth of the package holiday industry. Tourism now accounts for 45% of the national income and the BVI are known as one of the world's greatest sailing and scuba diving destinations.