Timelines of Grenada's and Haiti's history

Grenada History

1498 - Island sighted by Christopher Columbus

1609 - London merchants attempt settlement, fails due to Caribs

1650 - Martiniquan governor du Paquet purchases island from French company and establishes a settlement at St. George’s

1674 - French annex island

1762 - British capture island, formally ceded to England in 1763

1795-96 - Rebellion against British causes massacre of British and execution of ringleaders of uprising. Jules Fedon, leader of revolt, is never caught. Grenada remains British

Haiti History

1492 - Christopher Columbus takes possession of Hispaniola

1493 - La Isabela, first Christian town of the New World, is established

1496 - Santo Domingo becomes new capital

1520s - First African slaves arrive

1620s - Times of French pirates and buccaneers

1685 - Publication of Code Noir

1697 - Hispaniola divided, Spain cedes Haiti to France by Treaty of Ryswijk

1777 - Borders between Haiti and Santo Domingo defined by Aranjuez Treaty, later entire island ceded to France by Basle Treaty

1791 - Slave revolt. Toussaint l”Ouverture assumes leadership.

1801 - Toussaint declares Hispaniola autonomous.

1802 - French punitive expedition, war of independence, capture of Toussaint

1804 - Haiti proclaims independence, Jean-Jacques Dessalines becomes governor for life, is declared emperor in 1805, is assassinated in 1807

1807 - Henry Christophe is elected president, proclaims himself as king in 1811. Southern part of country secedes under Alexandre Pétion, civil war

1820 - Christophe commits suicide

1821 - Haitians invade east

1844 - Dominicans expel Haitians; Haiti and Dominican Republic become separate nations. 22 autocrats rule Haiti in the next 68 years