1623 Establishment of the First European Settlement on St. Kitts

In 1623, St. Kitts (Saint Christopher) became home to the first permanent European settlement in the eastern Caribbean. Led by Sir Thomas Warner, an English explorer, this event marked the beginning of colonial rule on the island. St. Kitts quickly became a key point for European expansion, making it a pivotal moment in the colonization of the Caribbean.

Sir Thomas Warner and the English Settlement

Sir Thomas Warner arrived on St. Kitts in 1623 with a small group of settlers from England. After exploring other parts of the Caribbean, including Guiana, Warner chose St. Kitts for its fertile land and strategic location. He established the colony at Old Road Town on the western coast, where settlers began cultivating tobacco, which soon became a profitable export.

Warner’s successful settlement on St. Kitts was the first English colony in the Caribbean and served as a model for future English expansion to other islands like Antigua, Montserrat, and Barbados .

The Arrival of the French

Just two years later, in 1625, French explorer Pierre Belain d’Esnambuc arrived on St. Kitts after fleeing Spanish forces. Warner and d’Esnambuc formed an alliance, allowing both the English and French to settle on the island, sharing control. This cooperation made St. Kitts unique, as it was one of the first Caribbean islands to be jointly colonized by both English and French settlers .

St. Kitts as a Strategic Colony

St. Kitts quickly became a central hub for European expansion in the Caribbean due to its strategic location. Both English and French settlers used St. Kitts as a base for establishing colonies on other islands. The French expanded to Martinique and Guadeloupe, while the English colonized Nevis and Barbados. The island’s success with crops like tobacco and later sugar made it one of the Caribbean’s most valuable colonies .

Conflict with the Indigenous Kalinago

The arrival of European settlers led to inevitable conflict with the island’s indigenous Kalinago (Carib) population. While relations between the settlers and the Kalinago were initially peaceful, tensions grew as Europeans expanded their territories. This culminated in the 1626 Kalinago Massacre, a coordinated attack by English and French settlers that nearly exterminated the Kalinago population on the island. This brutal event solidified European control over St. Kitts .

Conclusion

The establishment of the first European settlement on St. Kitts in 1623 by Sir Thomas Warner was a critical moment in Caribbean history. It signaled the start of European dominance in the region and the expansion of both English and French colonies. Despite the violent displacement of the indigenous Kalinago people, St. Kitts became a strategic and prosperous colony, shaping the colonial future of the Caribbean.

The Abolition of Slavery and Post-Emancipation

• 1807 – Abolition of the Slave Trade
• 1834 – Emancipation of Slaves
• 1838 – End of Apprenticeship

20th Century Developments

• 1932 – Founding of the St. Kitts Workers’ League
• 1952 – Universal Adult Suffrage
• 1967 – Associated Statehood
• 1978 – Death of Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw

Independence and Modern Developments

• 1983 – Independence
• 1998 – Nevis Secession Referendum
• 2005 – Hurricane Impact
• 2015 – Team Unity Government