Page 65 - The British Big Four

Key Historical Dates and Events

1492 Christopher Columbus discovers the Bahamas by landing on the Island called Guanahani (today called San
Salvador).
1647 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. They took over an island the Arawaks called Cigatoo, renaming it
Eleuthera, after the Greek word for freedom.
1670 Six Lord Proprietors of South Carolina were granted the Bahama Islands by King Charles II of England.
1695 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.
1717 Captain Woods Rogers was named first Royal Governor of the Bahama Islands and restored order by ending
the rule of pirates.
1729 The Bahamas House of Assembly officially convenes.
1741 Construction of Fort Montagu begins at the eastern entrance to Nassau Harbor. Completed in 1742, it stands
today as a tourist site.
1776 During the American War for Independence from Great Britain, eight colonial warships captured Fort Mon-
tague and Fort Nassau.
1783 The immigration of American Loyalists begins as they bring slaves to set up a plantation economy.