Exploration and Colonization, 1502
Christopher Columbus has embarked May 11 on a fourth voyage to the New World, this time with 150 men in 4 caravels that take 8 months to make the Atlantic crossing, forcing the crews to eat wormy biscuit (dried bread), sharkmeat, and ships' rats in order to survive.
Columbus discovers St. Lucia, the island of Guanaja off Honduras, Honduras itself, Costa Rica, and the Isthmus of Panama.
Political Events, 1762
British rear admiral George Brydges Rodney, 43, captures Martinique, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent in the West Indies.
Political Events, 1958
The Federation of the West Indies has come into being January 3 with 3 million people scattered over 77,000 square miles that embrace the British colonies Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Tobago, and Trinidad.
Political Events, 1979
St. Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean gains full independence February 22 after more than 175 years of British colonial rule.
St. Lucia gains full independence the same day.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines gains full independence October 26 after nearly 196 years of British rule.
