1494- Christopher Columbus arrived on the Island to find 60,000 Arawak Indians. The Spanish enslaved them and treated them so badly that within 50 years they were all dead.

1509- Spain establishes a colony at Saint Ann's Bay.

1520- Sugarcane cultivation is introduced.

1655- Spanish surrender island to English.

1657- Spanish and English fight largest battle ever in Jamaica. English win.

1661- Doyle is appointed first English Governor.

1662- 4,205 people living in Jamaica.

1663- The maroons begin to escape to the interior, murdering every white person they come across.

1664- The first House of Assembly was called together and passed 45 laws. Large numbers of slave were brought from Africa.

1673- Henry Morgan was made Lieutenant Governor.

1674- Lord Vaughan arrives as Governor and the production of sugar begins.

1677- Lord Vaughn leaves and Henry Morgan, by now an infamous pirate becomes Lieutenant Governor again.

1688- Henry Morgan dies.

1690- There was a slave uprising in Clarendon.

1692- William Beeston became Governor. At twenty minutes to twelve an earthquake strikes killing thousands at Port Royal, reputed to be the wickedest city on the earth.

1693- The construction of the new city of Kingston begins.

1694- The French attack Jamaica. After a few days of fighting the French were driven off the island.

1711- A great storm sweeps over Westmoreland destroying a vast amount of property and taking many lives.

1718- Nicholas Laws becomes Governor and introduces coffee to Jamaica in 1721.

1722- A terrible hurricane destroys property and lives.

1728- Bloodhounds were imported to hunt down the Maroons.

1734- English attack a village called Nanny Town destroys it, killing many Maroons.

1738- Edward Trelawny became Governor and made a peace treaty with the Maroons.

1739- The Maroons sign a treaty with England

1741- War broke out once again between England and Spain.

1744- October 20th a storm and earthquake destroys Savanah La Mar.

1746- A slave rebellion broke out which led to laws being passed to inflict terrible punishment to all that rebelled against their owners.

1760- A large slave revolt takes place in St. Mary lead by a man called Tacky. They took over Port Maria and armed themselves, murdering all white people they came across. Troops were sent in and finally defeated the slaves. Four hundred died in battle and six hundred were deported to British Honduras, the leaders all being put to death.

1764- The estimated population of Jamaica is now 166,454. With a whopping 140,454 of these being slaves. House of Assembly tries but fails to limit the number of slaves imported.

1766- A hurricane strikes the West End of the island.

1774- The population is now estimated at 209,617 out of which 192,787 are slaves.

1780- Hurricane devastates Westmoreland, completely destroys Savanah La Mar.

1784- Storms and drought. 15,000 slaves starve to death after their fields and supplies were destroyed.

1793- British and Black soldiers attack Haiti. Some cities were taken but the troops soon start to die mysteriously. Maroon wars break out but the rebellions are put down and the rebels are shipped to Nova Scotia, Canada.

1798- Uprising of slaves in Trelawey was blamed on two Haitians so they hang one.

1800- Census reveals huge majority of blacks in Jamaica.

1804-Two hurricanes occur.

1805- England and France go once again to war. Martial law is passed in Jamaica.

1808- Slave trade abolished by British. Against the Law to bring slaves to Jamaica. 319,351 slaves in Jamaica.

1809- A conspiracy to burn down Kingston and kill all the white people is discovered. The slaves involved are put to death.

1814- The first Baptist mission is built.

1818- Two hurricanes. 2,600 runaway slaves terrorize the countryside.

1823- House of assembly refuses British Governments order to "render the slave population as happy and comfortable as possible."

1829- Hurricane strikes island.

1831- Slave revolts occur in the parishes of Trelawny, Hanover,Westmoreland, St Elizabeth and Manchester. This was the last great slave rebellion and ended with Samuel Sharp being hanged.

1833- Law was passed to free all slaves six years and under.

1838- August 1, there were demonstration island wide celebrating the first day of complete freedom and the end of the slave trade.

1845- First Jamaican Railway was opened under private ownership. The first indentured East Indian agricultural workers arrive.

1850- 32,000 people die from Asiatic cholera.

1852- First case of smallpox spreads and kills large numbers.

1858- Jamaica gets first postal stamp.

1859- Jamaica gets its first telegraph. Two large riots break out.

1863- Taxes are raised.

1865- William Gorden began making fiery speeches, which incites Paul Bogal to capture and burn the          courthouse in Morant Bay. Martial law was proclaimed and 600 people were shot or hanged          with a larger numbers being flogged. Both Bogel and Gordon were hung. The British were          upset about the death of Gordon because he was white. Both men were later to become          national heroes.

1866- The twenty-two parishes which existed, are divided into fourteen.

1869- Nickel coins were first introduced into Jamaica.

1871- Population 506,154.

1875- First street car.

1879- Railway purchased by the government.

1880- Hurricane severely damages Kingston.

1889- One of the most popular Governors, Norman leaves Jamaica, Sir Henry Blake takes over.

1890- Legislative council sells the Jamaica Railway to an American Syndicate.

1891- 5 tourist hotels were erected for the Jamaican Exhibition.

1893- Elementary education’s made free for all.

1903- A great hurricane does considerable damage to north eastern Jamaica.

1907- A huge earthquake strikes Kingston. 800 dead.

1912- A hurricane strikes the western parishes.

1914- World War 1 breaks out, Jamaica sends 10,000 troops. Martial law was declared. Two          hurricanes hit.

1916- Another hurricane hits.

1917- Compulsory military service was required for every male 16 to 41.

1927- Banana growers form a direct line of steamers and begin operations to and from Canada          importing fruit.

1933- 5 inches of rainfall in 1 hour causing floods, killing 53, it became a record when 11.60 inches           fell for the day.

1934- The first radio/telephone service was introduced and for the first time overseas calls were          made.

1938- Alexander Bustamante was arrested after serious labor disturbances occurred in Westmoreland           as well as other parts of the island. He was soon released and formed the first labor union in           Jamaica.

1939- Jamaica gets a telephone system for the islands principle towns.

1943- Strip mining for bauxite begins. Jamaican Labor Party is formed.

1944- Jamaicans given the right to vote.

1950- Commercial broadcasting begins. Buster Mante (communist) vs. his cousin Norman (capitalist).

1951- Hurricane Charlie kills over 150 people.

1952- Cement starts to be commercially manufactured.

1957- Jamaica begins full internal self-government changing the government system for the first time          in three decades. Buster Mante resigns, Songster takes over, he dies and Sheera takes power.          Bongo hears the word from Oscar Williams and stops combing his hair.

1959- Second radio station is started.

1959- Construction for tourism begins in Negril.

1960- Tourism starts to become an industry.

1962- Last British Regiment leaves Island for good. August 5, 1962 Jamaica becomes an independent          nation of the British Common Wealth. Sheera puts out contracts on 16,000 Rastafarians. Orders          were bring them in dead or alive.

1963- First woman to hold office is elected in Westmoreland. First time a Jamaican won Miss World.

1964- Dr. Martin Luther King visits Jamaica.

1966- Haile Selassie was first African King to visit Jamaica causing much excitement through out the          island. State of emergency called because of gang warfare. Air Jamaica starts operation.

1968- First government lottery introduced.

1969- Air Jamaica is sold and starts operations in partnership with Canadian Government. National          Heroes Day was formed.

1970- Reggae music achieves world recognition. First Jumbo Jet lands in Jamaica.

1971- Sheara vs. Norman Manleys’ son Mike, Mike wins election.

1979- Seagla wins against Mike (communist). Land reforms.

1980- Hurricane hits north coast. 800 political murders occur. Country is nearly bankrupt and close to          political chaos.

1981- Jamaica Labor Party wins elections.

1983- Bongo and James search for a foreigner. Jungle George arrives in Jamaica.

1984- Hurricane Gilbert wreaks havok.

1985- Riots over gas shut down island for three days. 12,000 foreigners standed on island.

1989- Three new radio stations begin broadcasting bringing the total to five stations island wide.

1993- Tourism becomes the largest industry earning 953 million U.S. that year.

1991- Nelson Mandela visits Jamaica for the first time causing "the most tumultuous visit since Haile          Selassie."