Cayman Islands History

Columbus discovered Little Cayman and Cayman Brac during his fourth and last voyage to the New World, on May 10, 1503. While sailing from Panama to Hispaniola, severe winds pushed his ships off course west. The ship's log reported "... we were in sight of two very small and low islands, full of tortoises, as was all the sea about, insomuch as they looked like little rocks." Consequently, Columbus named the islands Las Tortugas after the abundant sea turtles sighted.

The islands were later named Lagartos, meaning alligator or large lizard and finally, the name Caymanas was applied around 1540, derived from the Carib indian word for marine crocodile. This name, in a modified form, has remained since the late 16th century.

Once discovered, the islands remained unexplored, unsettled and almost forgotten for many years.

Sir Francis Drake visited the islands during a voyage between 1585-86 and reported sighting "great serpents called Caymanas, like large lizards, which are edible." An anonymous author in Drake's fleet also described 10 ft. crocodiles. According to the Cayman Islands National Archive, there are written accounts of Cayman dating back to the 1830's which describe the shooting of crocodiles as a Sunday sport.

During the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, the islands were replenishment centers supplying abundant fresh water and food, including sea turtles and wild fowl, for English, Dutch, French and Spanish explorers and buccaneers and ships plying the Spanish Main route.

They came under British control in 1655 when Jamaica was captured from the Spanish by Oliver Cromwell's army. They officially became part of the British Empire under the Treaty of Madrid in 1670, after which Spain recognized British possession of "all lands, islands, colonies and places situated in the West Indies." For almost 300 years after that, the islands were administered as a dependency of Jamaica.

The first recorded settlement was of Little Cayman and Cayman Brac between 1666-1671, while Sir Thomas Modyford was Governor of Jamaica, comprising descendants of emigrants from the British Isles. The first royal land grant in Grand Cayman, signaling the beginning of permanent settlement, was recorded around 1700, covering 3000 acres between Prospect and North Sound, and others followed until 1742. These settlements included the use of slaves, although slavery was limited and never reached harsh and oppressive conditions which existed in plantocracy societies elsewhere in the Caribbean. About this time the population of Grand Cayman was 400.

It is reported that Sir Henry Morgan also paid visits to these islands. Pirates continued to sail the Caribbean under permission from their countries and were know as privateers. Their mission was to plunder enemy ships and return seized wealth to their country.

Privateering officially came to an end with the Treaty of Utrecht (1713-1714). As a result of this treaty, France and Spain ceased hostilities towards other European countries, including Britain, and the islands are then reported to have become hideouts for these out-of-work pirates. With the islands now safe from attack, settlers returned and records show permanent settlers in 1734 when land was granted to several families. The descendants of some of those settlers reside here still.

An interesting historic reference provided by the Cayman Islands National Archive confirms details of the earliest settlers of Grand Cayman and their lifestyle. The following is an excerpt from the transcript of George Gauld's remarks on The Island of Grand Cayman contained in a H.M. Royal Navy survey dated 1773:

The Island was originally settled by one of Oliver Cromwell's soldiers named Bodden, who had been at the taking of Jamaica. Old Isaac Bodden, his grandson, a native of the Island, now upwards of 70 years of age, remembers when there were only five families; but at this time, there are 21 at the South Side, which we have called Bodden Town, 13 at the West End, commonly called the Hogsties, 3 at the East End and 2 at Spot's Bay; in all 39 families, consisting of at least 200 white people and above same number of Negroes and Mulattoes. The Island produces a great quantity of cotton, which is their principle article of export besides Turtle; but for their own consumption, and to supply the vessels that pass by, they raise Indian corn, yams, sweet potatoes. pompions, plantains, melons, limes, oranges and most kinds of the fruits and vegetables that are to be found in Jamaica. The Sugar Cane likewise grows very well. There are plenty of goats on the Islands, but neither sheep nor black cattle, and only two horses, which were lately brought there from Jamaica by accident.

One of the most colourful historic legends, The Wreck of The Ten Sails, was recently "rewritten" in an accurate account uncovered through detailed research by Dr. Margaret Leshikar Denton. On February 8, 1794, not November 1788 as long thought, 10 merchant vessels went aground in rough seas off Grand Cayman's East End, led by the H.M.S. Convert. Contrary to an enduring popular legend, the convoy did not carry Prince William, the future King William IV, or any member of the Royal family, whose courageous rescue by Caymanians was attributed with the granting of the Cayman's freedom from taxation by King George III.

Another important historic event is considered the "Birth of Democracy" in the Cayman Islands. Pedro St. James great house in Savannah was the site of a historic meeting of residents which took place on 5 December, 1831 during which it was resolved that representatives should be appointed for the five different districts for the purpose of forming local laws for better Government. The elections took place on 10 December in the five districts on Grand Cayman and on 31 December they met as the first Legislative Assembly for the first time in George Town.

In addition, another historic event took place there in May 1835, when the proclamation declaring the emancipation of all slaves throughout the colonies was read at Pedro St. James and at a number of other prominent places in the Cayman Islands.

During the next century with limited natural resources to sustain them, Caymanians became famous for their resourcefulness and independent spirit. They turned to the sea for their livelihood, and Caymanians' reputation as outstanding sailors and turtle fishermen grew during the 20th century. Many Caymanian men joined the merchant marine and earned reputations as some of the finest ship's captains and seamen in the world.

When Jamaica attained independence in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain tied to Britain as a British Crown Colony. In 1971, the Islands received their first Governor and the present constitution was adopted in 1972 and its most recent amendments were adopted in February 1994.

Today, tourism and the international financial industry form the basis of Cayman's strong economy and prosperity. The Cayman Islands is recognized as the "birthplace" of the modern sport of recreational scuba diving in 1957, when the legendary Bob Soto opened the Caribbean's first dive shop on Grand Cayman.

The country's Tourist Board, was formed in 1966, launching the country's early serious efforts at tourism promotion overseas. It was the precedent for the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, which was created by the Tourism Law of 1974.

The country's successful offshore financial industry dates back to 1966 when the first banking and trust laws were passed, laying the foundation for the modern banking and financial services industry which exists today.

Grand Cayman was devastated by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004. From September 11 to September 12, Ivan, with Category 5 strength, passed within 30 miles of Grand Cayman, hitting it with 180 mph (290 km/h) winds. The were a couple of deaths, and over 80% of the buildings on the island were either damaged or completely destroyed. Ivan was the worst hurricane to hit the island in 86 years, but the hurricane was, in a way, a blessing in disguise. The island has undergone an extensive infrastructure upgrading since the hurricane. Old buildings were torn down and replaced by new, modern buildings built to the highest hurricane standards. Several older resorts were destroyed, and new luxury class resorts replaced them. Damaged buildings were fully renovated. New roads were put in, improving traffic flow. New communications systems were installed, updating the island with the newest modern communications equipment. A renewed respect for mother nature is also prevalent and hurricane preparedness on the island is at an all time high. An important lesson was learned in 2004.... and all in all, the Cayman Islands are now a modern, up to date, clean, safe tropical paradise with the highest standard of living and quality of life in the Caribbean.