Page 548 - The Dutch Caribbean Isles

Statia: Key Historical Dates and Events

1000 BC - Ciboney people attempted to settle in St. Barts, left due to the lack of water
1493 - Christopher Columbus sailed near St. Eustatius
1636 - Island colonized by the chamber of Zeeland of the Dutch West India Company
1638 - First shipment of St. Eustatius grown tobacco sent to Holland
1639 - Dutch colonized St. Eustatius, built Fort Oranje
1672 - War between Dutch Republic and France broke out, England sided with France, took possession of St. Eustatius, forced the Dutch
West India Company to cease trading
1678 - With Treaty of Nijmegen, St. Eustatius fell under direct command of the Dutch West India Company
1682 - Administration of St. Eustatius and Saba changed to a Dutch colony governed by the Dutch West India Company
1756 - St. Eustatius served as a free port with no customs duties; the island was known as “The Golden Rock”, economy flourished by
ignoring the trade embargoes between the great powers
1776 - Cannons of Fort Oranje, St. Eustatius were fired to salute the flag of the independent U.S. – the “First Salute”