| 1805 |
St.
Kitts invaded by the French who capture Forts Thomas and Smith.
The militia retreat to Brimstone Hill. The French demand and
obtain a ransom, then sail to Nevis and likewise hold the inhabitants
to ransom.
|
| 1806 |
A
French naval squadron is chased off by the guns at Brimstone
Hill
|
| 1807 |
Abolition
of the slave trade in the British empire. |
| 1830s |
Markus
'King of the Woods' an escaped slave wages a guerrilla war against
the plantations |
| 1834 |
Emancipation
of slaves declared in the British colonies, but under a 4 year
apprenticeship system (except in Antigua) of virtual slavery
in order to facilitate a transition for the planters. There
is a revolt in St. Kitts, for full freedom, quelled by troops
and marines from a British warship. |
| 1838 |
Emancipation
of slaves in St. Kitts. |
| 1835&1843 |
Hurricanes
inflict considerable damage to the Fortress |
| 1852-3 |
Brimstone
Hill Fortress evacuated and abandoned as a British military
fortification. Furniture and buildings auctioned. Cannon removed
to be sold as scrap. |
| 1867 |
Fire
destroys much of Basseterre. Afterwards a town rebuilt to improved
design, water supply developed and a Fire Brigade established.
|
| 1871 |
Federation
of the Leeward Islands of Antigua, Barbuda, Dominica, Montserrat,
and St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla established by (British) Parliament. |
| 1880 |
Disastrous
flood in Basseterre more than 200 lose their lives. |
| 1883 |
St.
Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla established as one presidency within
the Leeward Islands colonial administration. |
| 1896 |
Establishment
of the St. Kitts- Nevis Defence Force. |
