History of Saint Helena

Saint Helena is a small island with a rich history spanning more than 500 years. It was first discovered by the Portuguese in 1502. Over time, it became an important place for ships traveling between Asia, South Africa, and Europe. Because it is very far from other lands, Saint Helena is one of the most remote places where people live.

For many years, Britain used Saint Helena as a special colony, making it the second oldest one they had, after Bermuda. In the early 1800s, the British sometimes sent important or famous people there to live far away from their home countries. One of the most well-known was Napoleon Bonaparte, the leader of France. Other people sent there included Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo and thousands of Boer prisoners.

Discovery and early years, 1502–1658

The island of Saint Helena was found in 1502 by Portuguese sailors led by João da Nova. They named it after Saint Helena of Constantinople. However, some historians question whether João da Nova actually discovered the island, as maps from that time do not show it.

The Portuguese used the island as a place for ships to restock food and water on trips between Europe and Asia. They brought animals and plants there but did not stay permanently. The island was important because it sat along the trade winds used by ships rounding the Cape of Good Hope.

Over time, more sailors from different countries visited Saint Helena. By the late 1500s, English and Dutch ships also used the island. This led to conflicts, as these sailors sometimes damaged the plants and buildings left by the Portuguese.

East India Company, 1658–1815

The English wanted to claim Saint Helena, and in 1658, the East India Company decided to fortify and colonize the island. A fleet arrived in 1659, and Saint Helena became Britain’s second oldest colony after Bermuda. A fort was built, and houses were constructed in the valley.

Over time, the island struggled to grow its own food. The East India Company ordered ships to bring supplies. As years passed, leaders tried to manage the island’s resources and people. Some leaders faced difficulties, and there were times when settlers or soldiers disagreed with rules. Leaders also tried to protect the island’s forests and manage animals that damaged crops. Despite challenges, the island slowly grew, with new buildings, farms, and a small community forming over the years.

British rule 1815–1821, and Napoleon's exile

Main text: Napoleon I of France: Exile on Saint Helena

In 1815, the British government chose the remote island of Saint Helena to keep Napoleon Bonaparte safe. He arrived in October 1815 and stayed at Longwood, where he passed away on May 5, 1821.

The island was closely guarded by British soldiers and ships from the Royal Navy during this time. A British officer was in charge of the island while Napoleon was there. The British government paid for all costs related to Napoleon and the island's protection. Sir Hudson Lowe was the officer in charge from 1816 to 1821, reporting to Lord Bathurst, the Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, through the East India Company in London. Many people came to the island to support the extra soldiers, but it was hard for local businesses to bring in goods because of rules about ships stopping there.

In 1817, there were 821 white people, 820 soldiers, 618 workers from China, 500 free black people, and 1,540 enslaved people on the island. In 1818, steps were taken to slowly end slavery, starting with freeing children born to enslaved mothers after Christmas that year when they grew up. A local business created special coins to help with trade before 1821.

British East India Company, 1821–1834

After a famous person passed away, many temporary residents like soldiers left the island. The East India Company took control again, and life returned to normal. New leaders helped the island by opening a market, starting a garden society, and improving schools. Slavery was banned in 1792, but it took until 1827 to free the slaves living there.

British rule, a Crown colony, 1834–1981

In 1833, laws were passed to move control of the island from the East India Company to the British government, starting in 1834. A new leader arrived in 1836 with troops. He made big changes to save money, which caused many people to leave for better opportunities elsewhere. The population slowly decreased from 6,150 in 1817 to less than 4,000 by 1890.

A famous scientist visited the island in 1836. The island’s importance as a stop for ships decreased after new trade routes and steam ships changed travel. By the 1880s, far fewer ships stopped there.

In 1840, many freed people who had been captured during the effort to end slavery arrived on the island. They lived in several areas and some stayed to work. Also in 1840, a request from France to bring a famous person’s body back to France was granted.

A new regiment was formed to guard the island in 1842. A village was created to give people more space to live. The island’s coffee became famous and was sold in London. Churches and schools were built, and leaders worked to manage the growing population.

Over time, leaders changed, and some focused on saving money, which led to more people leaving. The island faced challenges like plant problems that damaged buildings and needed repairs. By the early 1900s, the population grew again, reaching over 9,000 by 1901, partly due to people held during a conflict. After they left, the population dropped.

The island saw changes like new roads, schools, and industries trying to grow crops and make goods. During world conflicts, some islanders volunteered to help, and the island’s leaders prepared for possible attacks. The population continued to change over the decades, with illnesses like measles and whooping cough affecting many people.

In 1957, three princes from Bahrain were held on the island until they were released. The island’s main industry, making fibre from plants, declined due to new synthetic materials. By the 1970s, new leaders were elected, and the population grew a little. In 1981, a special plant thought to be lost was found again on the island.

1981 to present

The British Nationality Act 1981 changed how Saint Helena and other crown colonies were classified, calling them British Dependent Territories. This meant that people from the island lost their status as citizens of the United Kingdom and could no longer live in Britain freely. For the next 20 years, many people on the island had to take low-paying jobs with the government, and the only jobs available outside the island were on the Falkland Islands and Ascension Island.

In 1982, the ship RMS St Helena was used to support the Falklands Conflict. The ship’s crew all volunteered for this duty. Later, in 1984, Prince Andrew visited the island for the first time as part of his military service. By 1988, a new school system was started, and a department was created to help improve the island’s economy and living conditions. In 1989, a new ship to replace the RMS St Helena was launched from Aberdeen. This ship was built specifically for traveling between Cardiff and Cape Town.

In 1989, a new constitution was introduced, changing how the island was governed. In the late 1990s, plans began for building an airport to make travel easier. After many delays, Saint Helena Airport was finally completed in 2016 and opened to flights in October 2017. Before the airport opened, the only way to reach the island was by boat, a trip that took much longer.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 caused big problems for the island’s tourism, which was important for the island’s growth.

History of British and other Royal visitors

The people of Saint Helena show strong loyalty to the British monarchy, more than almost anywhere else in the world.

Some believe the first royal visitor was Prince Rupert of the Rhine around 1619, though there are no records to prove it. Over the years, many important royal figures visited the island. These included The Prince de Joinville in 1840, The Prince Alfred in 1860, Empress Eugénie and Prince Henry of Prussia in 1880, and The Duke of Connaught in 1911.

In 1947, George VI became the only ruling monarch to visit the island. He was joined by Queen Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother), Princess Elizabeth (later Elizabeth II), and Princess Margaret. Later visits included The Duke of Edinburgh in 1957, Prince Andrew in 1984, and the Princess Royal in 2002.

History of the media in St Helena

The island's first printing press, called the St Helena Press, began in 1806 and produced government publications such as the Government Gazette and the St Helena Monthly Register. Over the years, many newspapers started and stopped, with the longest lasting being the St Helena Guardian, which ran from 1861 to 1925.

Radio St Helena began broadcasting in 1967, and later, Saint FM Radio started in 2005, bringing news and music to the island and online. However, both radio stations closed in 2012. SaintFM Community Radio took over in 2013, and today, there are three active radio stations on the island.

Communications and television

One company, Sure South Atlantic, offers services like broadband, mobile phones, phone calls, internet, and television for the island.

In December 2019, the government agreed to work with Google to connect Saint Helena to the Equiano Subsea Fibre Optic Cable. This project was paid for by the European Development Fund. The cable reached Ruperts Beach in August 2021, and since September 2023, the island has been connected to it.

Ecological significance

Saint Helena has played an important role in helping people understand how humans affect the world around them. When it was first found, the island was very isolated and unchanged by humans, which made it a perfect place for scientists to study.

Famous explorers like Georg Forster and Johann Reinhold Forster visited the island in 1775 on a trip led by James Cook aboard HMS Resolution. They noticed that cutting down trees and taking away plants caused serious problems, like flooding and loss of animal life. Their work helped people see how important it is to protect plants and nature. Scientists continue to study Saint Helena to learn more about what the island looked like long ago before humans arrived.