A Capsule History

The Virgin Islands were named by Christopher Columbus on his second voyage in 1493. The islands were inhabited by the fierce Carib Indians and, after a rude reception on St. Croix, Columbus did not attempt to land here. But he was so impressed by the beauty and huge number of islands, he named them for St. Ursula and her 11,000 virgins.

Although noted on Spanish maps of the New World, no attempt was made to settle the island until 1666 and then it was Denmark that attempted it, not Spain. Troubles plagued the settlers from the outset – their ship being damaged by storms, then fire, the tiny settlement attacked by pirates, sickness and finally a hurricane.

So, it was not until May 23, 1672, when a group of 104 people landed on St. Thomas, that real settlement took place. Their ship, The Pharoah, carried farming tools, furniture, construction materials, experienced planters, a minister, George Iverson (the first governor), and an unsightly group of convicts and ladies of ill repute.

King Christian V, granted a charter to the Danish West India Company to develop the island. They constructed Fort Christian (still standing) and the entire colony lived within its walls. At the same time, plantations were parceled out and tobacco, foodstuffs and sugar cane were planted. Taverns constructed along the waterfront attracted sailors, privateers, and the settlers themselves.

In 1673, the first shipload of slaves arrived on the island from West Africa to work on the plantations. About 28,000 slaves worked here overall. In 1685, governors Nicolas and Adolph Esmit allowed the island to be used as a pirate refuge and storage center. The pirate’s booty was used to make life more comfortable. St. Thomas, so close to the trade route between South America and Europe, was a natural hiding spot for the pirate bands. Pirate legends abound on the island and Drake’s Seat, from which Sir Francis watched his men set sail to plunder Spanish galleons, is a popular tourist spot, as is Bluebeard’s Castle (now a hotel).

In 1764, King Frederick V declared St. Thomas a free port and prosperous merchants replaced pirates. They built large warehouses on the waterfront and Dronningen’s Gade (Main Street) to store the goods being shipped abroad. In the mid-18th century a group of French-speaking farmers and fishermen arrived from nearby St. Bartholomew. Hundreds of them built their own town on the waterfront just west of Charlotte Amalie. This area, still known as Frenchtown, is filled with restaurants and nite spots.

St. Thomas’ fortunes rose and fell with those of Denmark during these years, at some periods prosperous and others just short of ruin. In 1843, Governor Peter Von Scholten granted freedom to the slaves (after a bloody uprising on St. Croix) and the effect on the economy was devastating. Most slaves stayed on the island but preferred to work their own land or labor in town rather than remain on the plantations.

At this time ships began using steam engines rather than sails and the need for restocking supplies diminished. The island stagnated for the rest of the century and it wasn’t until 1917 that it again became important. The United States was afraid that Denmark would fall to the Germans during WorldWar I, giving Germany a refueling stop for its ships in the Caribbean. America determined to purchase the islands from the Danes, who had ruled them for over 200 years. The price – $25 million in gold. The change of ownership did little for the people of the islands. But after World War II, St. Thomas’ status as a free port, marvelous weather, easy transportation and, finally, the closing of Cuba as a tourist destination brought St. Thomas to its position as the premier stop in the Caribbean, with over a million visitors each year. Many of them return annually.