Timeline of Guadeloupe

Chronology

5 events spanning the history of Guadeloupe. BCE/CE dating.

1. 1493

   Christopher Columbus discovered Guadeloupe during his second expedition.

   Christopher Columbus discovered Guadeloupe during his second expedition.

2. 1648

   The island of St. Martin in the Lesser Antilles was divided between the French and Dutch.

   The island of St. Martin in the Lesser Antilles was divided between the French and Dutch. The southern half went to the Dutch as Sint Maarten, while the northern half, Saint Martin, became part of the French department of Guadeloupe. Legend has it that a Dutchman and a Frenchman stood back to back at the center of the island and paced of their shares. The Dutchman stopped often to drink beer and was left with the smaller share.

3. 1759

   British seized Basse-Terre and Guadeloupe in the Antilles from France.

   British seized Basse-Terre and Guadeloupe in the Antilles from France.

4. 2003

   Guadeloupe and Martinique rejected reforms.

   Voters on the French Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique rejected reforms to their legislatures that opponents had criticized as a step toward independence from France.

5. 2009

   Unions in Guadeloupe scored a victory in getting a deal to raise some workers’ salaries.

   Unions in Guadeloupe scored a victory in getting a deal to raise some workers’ salaries, but said they will not end a general strike now concluding its sixth week.