Bermuda History and Facts

Bermuda History and Facts

Bermuda has a rich history dating back to the year 1503 when some Europeans visited the island for the first time.

Bermuda is actually not a single island. It's a string of 180 islands. Only 20 of these are inhabited.

Seven of these islands are joined by bridges and causeways to the main island of Bermuda.

And the entire area of Bermuda with all the islands put together is about 21 square miles.

Sculpture of George Somers in St. George

Name of the discoverer of Bermuda islands was not known until 1511. This is when Peter Martyr's publication Legatio Babylonica for the first time mentioned a Spanish explorer named Juan de Bermudez having discovered Bermuda. However, very little was known even about this discovery.

Now starts the serious history of Bermuda. In 1609, Sir George Somers had started with a fleet of 9 ships from Plymouth (England) towards the new English colony - Jamestown in Virginia.

As a chief commander, he was aboard the lead ship (or the flagship) called the Sea Venture. There were 150 sailors and settlers aboard the vessels, and also a dog.

The fleet was caught in a severe storm. The sailors were somehow able to spot the east-end reefs of Bermuda and were able to steer the ship towards the rocks. The ship however got wrecked on the reefs, but all men on board and the dog were saved :-)

The survivors later built two new ships - The Deliverance and The Patience. The Deliverance was constructed primarily out the materials stripped from the Sea Venture itself.

After having constructed the two new vessels, all of them sailed again for Jamestown. There was another disaster awaiting there. On reaching they found out that almost the entire population of this new colony had already died due to starvation. There were some 500 English settlers who arrived by ship before them and only 60 of them were still surviving, and most of the survivors were either sick or dying.

The food that the new settlers brought with them from Bermuda were too little for anyone to survive on. It was decided to return everyone to England. Just then arrived another relief fleet carrying food supplies. So everyone finally stayed back.

The food that the Sea Venture settlers had brought earlier were mainly pork meet. They found a lot of wild pigs in Bermuda. So how did pigs come to Bermuda?

It is said that the previous visitors to the island had left these pigs to breed and be a ready supply of food for passing ships, in case of emergency.

Actually this episode of Bermuda pigs had a long lasting impact and got referred later even in currencies as "Bermuda Hogs".

Somers returned to Bermuda later to get some more food supplies for Jamestown settlers. But he fell sick and died in Bermuda.

He left behind few volunteers so that England could maintain the claim for Bermuda. The island has been continuously inhabited by the British since the wrecking of the ship Sea Venture. And today, it claims its origin from that date (1609) when George Somers arrived in Bermuda and not the official settlement of 1612.

Bermuda Parishes and Early Colony

In 1620, for the first time Bermuda became a self governing colony, although it continued to struggle for seven decades to make a viable economy. Find out how this colony was formed and how the administration was run in Bermuda.

Slavery in Bermuda

Slaves in Bermuda were brought in soon after the colony was formed. They were mostly Latin American and African blacks, native Americans, Irish and Scots. Find out all about slavery in Bermuda.

How tourism developed in Bermuda

Do you know that during Victorian time, wealthy fathers used to come from US to Bermuda. They would look for eligible bachelors working with navy or military to whom they could marry their daughters. Read this interesting story.

Historical Events and Timeline

Bermuda's first historical event dates back to 1511 when the Spanish captain Juan de Bermudez first arrived and the island was thus named. Know all the significant historical events of Bermuda from this link.

Bermuda Island

Bermuda is not a single island, rather a string of 180 islands. Some are inhabited and only few are joined to the main island of Bermuda by bridges and causeways. This link will tell you all about the island of Bermuda including how it was formed, how it looks, vegetation, and much more.

People of Bermuda

All about people of Bermuda, population, language, art, culture, sports and more.

Bermuda Economy

Here is all about Economy of Bermuda, industries including International Business and Tourism, living styles, jobs, products & services and lot more.

Have information on Bermuda's History?

Visit Your Reviews and share it with all.

Return from Bermuda Island and its History to Bermuda Attractions Home

Site Search

About Me

Disclaimer

Privacy Policy

_________________________________________________