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HISTORY OF JAMAICA

An overview of the Jamaican history through its seminal events.

1994 Chistopher Columbus lands at what will be known as "Discovery Bay", "discovering" Jamaica for Europeans and
claiming it for the Spanish Crown. In the next decade, Spanish violence and disease will wipe out the
peaceful Arawak inhabitants of the island that the Spanish name Xaymaca.

1518 Gold is discovered in Jamaica.

1523 Three hundred slaves are sent to the island.

1655 The British take Jamaica from the Spanish.

1663 The undefeated Maroons, under the leadership of Juan de Bolas, are acknowledged as a free people.

1670 The Treaty of Madrid is signed, under which Spain recognizes British sovereignty of Jamaica.

1675 Charles II appoints Sir Henry Morgan, a former buccaneer, as Governor of Jamaica.

1692 Port Royal, the pirate capital of the world, is destroyed by an earthquake.

1700-86 In this period an average of seven thousand slaves are imported each year into Jamaica. Some will work
the sugar plantations there; a quarter will be re-exported to other countries.

1738 Nanny, one of Jamaica's national heroes, leads a successful slave revolt against the British settlers.

1739 The British give the Maroons rights over the land they have settled in the Central Mountains.

1831 The largest of the slave uprisings is led by Sam Sharpe, a Baptist deacon. He declares when waiting
execution: "I would rather die on yon gallows than live a slave".

1833 Jamaica's most influential newspaper, the Gleaner (later the Daily Gleaner) is founded.

1838 Slavery is abolished in Jamaica.

1865 The Morant Bay Uprising takes place, and its leaders, Paul Bogle (the son of a freed slave) and George
William Gordon (a Jamaican legislator of mixed race), are executed.

1884 William Alexander Bustamante, the future founder of the Jamaican Labour Party (JLP), is born.

1887 On August 17, Marcus Mosiah Garvey, proponent of Black self-determination, is born in St. Ann's Bay on
the north coast of Jamaica.

1893 Norman Washington Manley, the founder of the People's National Party (PNP) is born.

1916 Marcus Garvey organizes the Universal Negro Improvement Association in the United States.

1924 On December 10, Norman Washington Manley's son Michael Norman Manley, future leader of the PNP and
Jamaica Prime Minister during its most turbulent times, is born in Kingston.

1930 On November 2, Ras Tafari Makonnen, the supposed 225th descendant of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba,
is crowned Emperor of Ethiopia, receiving the title of Haile Selassie, King of Kings, Lord of Lords,
Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah. To many Rastafarians this fulfill the prophecies of both Marcus
Garvey and the Book of Revelation.

1935 Marcus Garvey establishes the Black Star Line shipping company. The company is intended to transport all
black people in the New World who wish to return to their ancestral home in Africa.

1938 Jamaica's two main political parties, the PNP and the JLP, are founded by the cousins Norman Washington
Manley and William Alexander Bustamante.

1944 The first Jamaican general election based on universal suffrage is held.

1945 On February 6, Robert Nesta Marley is born, of an English father and Jamaican mother, in St. Ann's Nine
Mile.

1948 Large-scale emigration of Jamaicans to Britain begins with the arrival of almost five hundred on board
the "Empire Windrush".

1960 In June an encampment of militant Rastas in the hills above Kingston is attacked by the West India
Regiment.

1962 Jamaica is granted independence from British rule on August 6.

1964 Michael Manley first acquires the nickname "Joshua", while leading a march of striking communications
workers to the JBC (Jamaican Broadcasting Company) building outside of which he declars: "These are the
walls of Jericho!".

1966 On April 21, the Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie, makes a state visit to Jamaica, to be greeted by
hundreds of enthusiastic Rastafarians at Kingston airport.

1972 On February 29 the left-leaning PNP, led by Michael Manley, wins the general election, and ends ten years
of JLP rule.

1974 Faced with growing violence, Prime Minister Michael Manley puts the island "Under Heavy Manners" passing
the Gun Court Act, which imposes indefinite detention on anyone caught in illegal possession of a firearm.

1976 Another wave of violence makes Michael Manley declare a State of Emergency, which authorizrs the security
forces to "detain all persons whose activities are likely to endanger the public safety".

Early in December gunmen break into Bob Marley's house, shooting and wounding both the singer and his manager,
Don Taylor.
Michael Manley includes this incident in his diary of actions that he consider are intended to destabilize the
country.

On December 15, Michael Manley is re-elected.

1978 On January 4, an incident known as the Green Bay Massacre takes place. Five suspected gang members
associated with the JLP are murdered, apparently by an army firing squad, at a bay west of Kingston,
another five escape to tell the story.

On April 22, the One Love peace concert initiated by rival gang leaders Bucky Marshall and Claudie Massop
brings both of the political parties' gunmen together. Bob Marley - himself the survivor of an assasination
attempt - forces Manley and Seaga to hold hands.

1980 The general election is the most violent to date. The Jamaican electorate elects Edward Seaga's
conservative JLP.

1981 On May 21, the Hon. Robert Nesta Marley, Order of Merit, is given a state funeral, at which Jamaica's
Governor General, Florizel Glasspole, Prime Minister Edward Seaga and the leader of the opposition
Michael Manley are among those who make speeches in his honour.

1988 Hurricane Gilbert strikes Jamaica.