History of Bermuda

 

Map of Bermuda Source Encyclipedia Brittanica 

    Bermuda unlike other Caribbean islands was uninhabited before it was colonized by Europeans. The lack of a fresh water source (other than rain) and its great distance from the Americas continents made it a challenge to settle, and put it out of reach and interest of early indigenous island settlers who discovered most of the Caribbean islands.  The first recoding of “Bermudas” was in a 1511 Spanish map its discovery is credited to Juan de Bermúdez in 1503.  

    The Spanish and Portuguese used it as a rest spot for trips between Europe and the “New World”. They brought and released various animals that could be used to restock their ships with food. However, the stormy climate, frequent ship wrecks and even legends of spirits and devils (likely inspired by the native birds) kept them from trying to settle there.

    These same storms and ship wreck conditions eventually lead to the first lasting Bermuda settlement in 1609. The Virginia Company of Britain sent a fleet of ships set for the colony of Jamestown, however the flagship Sea Venture wrecked in Bermuda separated from the fleet by a storm. The island was claimed form England and controlled by the Virginia company until 1615 when it was given to the Somer island company.

The Bermuda flag depicts the wreck of the Sea Venture along with the flag of Britain.  https://picturemuseum.blogspot.com/2011/07/flag-of-belize-flag-of-benin-flag-of.html  

    

    Bermuda has remained a British Territory without great support for independence. The English civil war in 1649 included a civil war in Bermuda. The British militia won, and the colonist had to swear allegiance or be exiled to the Bahamas. The loyalty to Britain has remained strong and now citizens of Bermuda are granted British citizenship.

  Seafaring, privateering and smuggling were the primary industries that developed on the Bermuda islands along with lumber and ship building. A large part of its population was transient emigrating to the western colonies only to stop in the Bermuda settlements for short periods.  Many of the early immigrants to the islands were slaves and indentured servants including people from Africa, Native tribes of western territories and Irish and Scottish prisoners. Captured crews from ships taken by the privateers or crashed near the island also were enslaved. In 1833 the British Empire outlawed slavery freeing a large portion of Bermuda’s population.

Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/place/Bermuda/History

https://www.ciaworldfactbook.us/north-america/bermuda.html

https://picturemuseum.blogspot.com/2011/07/flag-of-belize-flag-of-benin-flag-of.html