From the first Indigenous settlements to the modern federation, these are the defining moments in the history of St Kitts and Nevis. Each event below is summarised here; in-depth articles are linked throughout the series.
Pre-Columbian era
- circa 3000 BCE – 1493 CE — Indigenous settlement: The islands were home to the Ciboney, then Arawak (Taino) and finally Kalinago peoples, who developed societies with distinct cultures, languages and trade networks. The Kalinago knew St Kitts as Liamuiga and Nevis as Oualie.
European arrival and colonisation
- 1493 — Christopher Columbus’s second voyage: Columbus sighted St Kitts on his second voyage; the island became known to Europeans as Saint Christopher, later shortened to St Kitts.
- 1623 — The first English settlement: Sir Thomas Warner established the first permanent English settlement in the West Indies at Old Road, St Kitts. French settlers followed in 1625, and the two powers shared the island.
- 1626 — The Kalinago Massacre: English and French settlers launched a coordinated attack on the Indigenous Kalinago at Bloody Point, seizing control of the island — one of the darkest chapters in the islands’ history.
The colonial era
- 1650s — The rise of sugar plantations: Sugar cane became the dominant economy, built on large plantations and the forced labour of enslaved Africans.
- 1666 — French occupation of St Kitts: During the Second Anglo-Dutch War the French temporarily expelled the English; the Treaty of Breda (1667) restored English control.
- 1706 — The French raid on Nevis: A devastating raid during the War of the Spanish Succession severely damaged Nevis’s economy and infrastructure.
- 1783 — Treaty of Paris: The treaty ending the American Revolutionary War confirmed British control over St Kitts and Nevis.
Abolition and emancipation
- 1807 — Abolition of the slave trade: The British Parliament outlawed the transatlantic slave trade, though slavery itself continued on the islands.
- 1834 — Emancipation: Slavery was abolished, freeing thousands of enslaved Africans, who were then bound to a transitional “apprenticeship” system.
- 1838 — Full emancipation: The apprenticeship system ended, completing emancipation.
The road to nationhood
- 1932 — Founding of the St Kitts Workers’ League: The forerunner of the islands’ modern political movement, advocating workers’ rights and political reform.
- 1952 — Universal adult suffrage: Every adult gained the right to vote, regardless of property or income.
- 1967 — Associated statehood: St Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla gained full internal self-government in association with the United Kingdom; Anguilla separated soon after.
- 1978 — Death of Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw: The first Premier and a towering figure of the labour and independence movements.
- 1983 — Independence: On 19 September 1983 St Kitts and Nevis became a sovereign nation, with Dr Sir Kennedy Alphonse Simmonds as its first Prime Minister. Read more on the Independence page.
The modern federation
- 1998 — Nevis secession referendum: A referendum on Nevis’s separation from the federation did not reach the required two-thirds majority.
- 1998 — Hurricane Georges: One of the most destructive storms in the federation’s modern history caused severe damage across both islands and prompted major investment in disaster preparedness.
- 2015 — Team Unity government: A coalition government took office following the general election, emphasising cooperation between the islands.
For the full chronological sweep, see the Timeline of Key Events, or return to the Historical Overview and the History & Culture hub.