1493 November 14

Christopher Columbus visits St. Croix in the Virgin Islands on his 2nd voyage of discovery and encounters fierce resistance from the natives. Believed to be only the second European bloodshed in the new world^2p37.

1580

Sir Francis Drake sails through the Virgin Islands in what would later be known as the Sir Francis Drake Channel^2p43.

1600's

Virgin Islands first settled by European natives^2p34. Danish, Dutch, and French settlers arrive and find no native Indian inhabitants^2p42.

1647

It is believed that there was a previous European settlement on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. After French settlers from Crab Island fled Spanish soldiers who ruined their plantations and destroyed their ships, they found abandoned orange, lemon, and banana groves, possibly left by early Dutch bucaneers^2p46.

1666

First record of European inhabitants on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands^2p44. Erik Schmidt dies on and is buried on St. Thomas. Erik arrived on the Dutch supply ship Eendracht^2p47, ^6p30.

1671 August 31

After the newly abandoned St. Thomas is claimed by the Danish West India and Guinea Company in 1667, the Golden Crown is the first ship of settlers dispatched from Copenhagen, Denmark to the island^2p47.

1672 (approx)

Jorgen Iversen, governor of Danish St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, commences building a fort, which became the residence of the governor and the Lutheran pastor whom accompanied him on his journey from Denmark. Part of this fort would later be included in Christian's Fort in Charlotte-Amalia^2p49.

1672 May 25

Danish ship Ferö with newly appointed governor Jorgen Iversen arrives at St. Thomas Harbour on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, and the Dutch take the island, which the English left 6 or 7 weeks earlier. 86 people died on the voyage over. Seventy five more died after landing^6p37-39.

1684

St. John in the Virgin Islands is colonized by European inhabitants for the first time^2p44.