TURKS
& CAICOS ISLANDS
TURKS
& CAICOS ISLANDS
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1492: The islands go down in history when a chap called Chris Columbus steps ashore and claims it as 'Spanish India' (geography lessons not his strongpoint, perchance?). Their odd names develop from the Turk's Head or Fez Cactus found on the islands, and the words caya hico ('chain of islands').
1678: In a rare act of 'war', Bermuda annexes the islands.
1753-4: The French invade and occupy the islands for a year before the British chase them out.
1776-83: The French twice reoccupy the islands during the US War of Independence and are twice driven out.
1835: Slavery abolished throughout the British Empire.
1848: The Turks and Caicos are made self-governing under the governor of Jamaica.
1872: Jamaica annexes the islands.
1962: The islands regain their own administration upon Jamaican independence.
1979: The islands become a separate Crown Colony.
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