1497	Nova Scotia was rediscovered by John Cabot and claimed for England.
1534	Jacques Cartier explored the northern shoreline.
1604–1605	DeMonts and Champlain established a settlement at Port Royal (present-day Annapolis Royal).
1621	The first attempts at British colonization were made; they failed.
1629	First settlements were made by the British at Charlesfort (near Port Royal) and at Rosemar.
1654	French settlements were seized by New Englanders.
1670	The Treaty of Breda gave lost territory back to France.
1686	Ninety French Acadian families were located at Port Royal.
1690	Port Royal was captured by New Englanders.
1713	Through the Treaty of Utrecht, France gave Acadia to Britain.
1749	Halifax was settled by the British.
1752	The first newspaper in Canada, the Halifax Gazette, was published.
1755	Most French Acadians were expelled by the British. Many returned later.
1758	Louisbourg was captured by the British.
1763	Cape Breton and Prince Edward Island were annexed to Nova Scotia.
1773	The first Scottish settlers arrived.
1783	American refugees of the American Revolution, who were also known as United Empire Loyalists, came to Nova Scotia. Cape Breton and New Brunswick enjoyed separate governments.
1815–1850	Some 55,000 immigrants, mostly Scottish and Irish, came to the province.
1818	Dalhousie University was founded in Halifax.
1820	Cape Breton was annexed to Nova Scotia.
1848	Nova Scotia was the first British colony where the principle of responsible government was recognized.
1867	The Province of Nova Scotia was formed, being one of the original four provinces to join the Confederation.
1876	The railway from Halifax to Quebec was completed.
1917	A French ship collided with a Norwegian steamer. The collision caused an explosion of TNT, explosive acid, and benzine. A large part of the northern section of Halifax was destroyed.