History of St. John, United States Virgin Islands

1600's

Virgin Islands first settled by European natives2p34. Danish, Dutch, and French settlers arrive and find no native Indian inhabitants2p42.

1684

St. John in the Virgin Islands is colonized by European inhabitants for the first time2p44.

1754

The Virgin Islands holdings of the Danish West India and Guinea company are sold to the Danish crown2p44.

1801 April 01

British Admiral Duckworth and General Trigg capture the Virgin Islands2p45.

1802

The British return the Virgin Islands to Denmark by the Treaty of Amiens2p45.

1807

The British Admiral Cochrane and General Bower recapture the Virgin Islands2p45.

1815

Trade of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas and St. John) becomes free of all restrictions. European ships are now allowed to enter on equal terms with American ships2p44.

1815 April 15

The British return the Virgin Islands to the Danish in exchange for the Danish island of Heligoland2p45.

1828

The population of the Virgin Islands of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix is 46,0002p27.

1841

The population of the Virgin Islands of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix is 41,0002p27.

1847

King Christian VIII of Denmark passed laws for future emancipation of slaves in its portion of the Virgin Islands2p45.

1848

Slavery is abolished throughout the Danish West Indies after an uprising of slaves on St. Croix in the Virgin Islands2p45.

1866

United States Secretary of State William H. Seward secures a preliminary survey of the Virgin Islands, visited in person, and was prepared to pay 5,000,000USD for St. Thomas and St. John2p17.

1867 October 24-25

Treaty concluded for the United States purchase of St. Thomas and St. John, Virgin Islands for 7,500,000USD. Inhabitants of the two islands vote 1,244 to 22 in favor. The sale seems certain2p17.

1867 November 27

The Tiende newspaper in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands publishes a public proclamation that they have decided to let the United States take over St. Thomas and St. John2p17-18.

1870 April 14

The proposed treaty to allow the transfer of the Virgin Islands of St. Thomas and St. John from Denmark to the United States lapses2p20-22.

1870 May 7

The Danish King proclaims that the deal for the Virgin Islands of St. Thomas and St. John has fallen through2p20-22.

1902 January

Another treaty for possession of the Virgin Islands of St. Thomas and St. John between Denmark and the United States is negotiated. The United States desires to have a naval base in the Caribbean. Danish parliament rejects the 5,000,000USD offer2p23.

1911

Another attempt is made by the United States to purchase the Virgin Islands of St. Thomas and St. John from Denmark2p23.

1912

Another attempt is made by the United States to purchase the Virgin Islands of St. Thomas and St. John from Denmark2p23.