Saint Vincent and the Grenadines History

History
The Carib Indians who originally populated the island aggressively prevented European settlement on St. Vincent until the 1700's. The French first settled on the island in 1719. Shortly thereafter, the British tried to take control of the island. After much discussion, it was ceded to Britain in 1763. St. Vincent and the Grenadines were the last of the Windward Islands to gain independence in 1979.

England claimed but did not occupy St. Vincent in 1627, it was considered neutral by 1660, and Carib Indians repelled European settlements until France founded Barrouallie in 1719. Great Britain gained rule in 1722, the island was then neutral until 1748. Great Britain and France then each claimed the island as follows: France 1756, Great Britain 1763, France 1779, Great Britain 1783, and made fully independent in 1979.

Timeline
1754 - 1763 The British captured the island from the French during the Seven Years' War. St Vincent was ceded to Great Britain by the Treaty of Paris 1779 - The island was restored to French rule 1783 - Regained by the British under the Treaty of Versailles 1783 - 1796 The Black Caribs fought a series of battles against the British. Their uprising was eventually put down, resulting in almost 5,000 Black Caribs being exiled to the tiny island of Baliceaux off the coast of Bequia 1861 - 1888 Shiploads of East Indian labourers arrived 1903 - La Soufrière volcano erupted, killing 5,000 people. Much farmland was damaged, and the economy deteriorated