Historical Timeline

Timeline of Jamaica

25 dated events spanning the recorded history of Jamaica.

Chronology

25 events spanning the history of Jamaica. BCE/CE dating.

1494
Christopher Columbus arrived at the island of Jamaica on his second voyage.
Christopher Columbus arrived at the island of Jamaica on his second voyage.
1509
Jamaica occupied by the Spaniards
Jamaica occupied by the Spaniards under a license from Columbus’s son; much of the indigenous Arawak community dies off from exposure to European diseases; African slaves brought in to work on the sugar plantations.
1517
Spain brought the first slaves to Jamaica.
Spain brought the first slaves to Jamaica.
1555
Island attacked by French.
Island attacked by French.
1624
Britain begins colonizing the Caribbean.
Britain begins colonizing the Caribbean.
1640
Spanish crown took control of the colony.
Spanish crown took control of the colony.
1655
Jamaica is captured by the British.
Jamaica is captured by the British.
1656
Cromwell issued his famous proclamation in an effort to settle the island.
Cromwell issued his famous proclamation in an effort to settle the island. Land was granted to British citizens who were willing to settle on the island. Approximately 1,600 immigrants took up the offer and settled around Port Morant.
1670
Jamaica formally ceded to the British in accordance with the Treaty of Madrid.
Jamaica formally ceded to the British in accordance with the Treaty of Madrid.
1675
1,200 settlers from Suriname came to Jamaica and started sugar planting.
1,200 settlers from Suriname came to Jamaica and started sugar planting.

1692
Port Royal destroyed by violent earthquake.
Port Royal, once the busiest trading center of the British West Indies and infamous for general debauchery, is devastated by an earthquake.
1739 – 1740
After two major Maroon Wars, signed treaties with the British.
After two major Maroon Wars, signed treaties with the British. In the treaty of 1740 -- given land and rights as free men. They were to stop fighting and recapture run-away slaves. Caused a rift because not all Maroons believed in returning recaptured slaves to plantations.
1808
The Abolition Bill was passed.
The Abolition Bill was passed. This meant the trading in African slaves was declared to be “utterly abolished, prohibited and declared to be unlawful”.
1831
The Christmas Rebellion
The Christmas Rebellion (also known as the Baptist War) of 1831 which began on the Kensington Estate in St. James, was led by Samuel Sharpe - a Baptist Deacon. Sam Sharpe is now a National Hero. This was the last great slave rebellion (involving as many as 60,000 of the island’s 300,000 slave population). It lasted for four months until the rebellion was crushed. The rebel leaders were hanged in Charles Square, Montego Bay, now known as Sam Sharpe Square.
1842
Calabar College in Kingston was opened.
Calabar College in Kingston was opened.
1870
Banana plantations set up
Banana plantations set up as the sugar cane industry declines in the face of competition from European beet sugar.

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