Caribbean Colonial Statistics from the British Empire, 1824–1950 Volumes

Virgin Islands, 1843-1887

The main European countries who laid claim to the Virgin Islands were the Spanish; these Islands would then be settled by the Danes, Dutch, French and English over the years that followed. The English took the Dutch territories in 1672, during the third Anglo-Dutch war. Slaves on the British Virgin Islands were freed in 1838, after 4 years of apprenticeship. The United States purchased the Danish Virgin Islands in 1917. The modern legislative council of the British Virgin Islands was formed in 1950, it has been known as the House of Assembly since being accorded new powers and responsibilities by the British Government.

• Contributor:  British Foreign & Commonwealth Office
• Reference:  73235U
• Number of Documents:  7
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