Montserrat Historical Timeline

1000

Montserrat has been occupied by Amerindians for ~1500 years

1100

Eruption

1300

Amerindians living on Alliouagana, as part of a trading network

1480

Eruption

1493

Columbus sails past the island and names it Montserrat

1550

Eruption

1632

Captain Anthony Briskett invited fellow Irishmen to settle the island

1636

St Anthony’s Church established

~1650

First arrivals of the ancestors of the majority (African descent) population (as enslaved labourers).

1667

Hurricane "reduced most of these miserable people to their first principles"

1681

Hurricane

1690

Earthquake

1733

Big Hurricane. 30 from 36 sugar mills destroyed and 3/4 structures destroyed.

1737

Hurricane. Montserrat levelled again

1740

Hurricane

1744

Hurricane

1747

Hurricane

1750

Original Government House (Plymouth) built (re-built in 1908)

1751

Hurricane

1766

Hurricane. 440 killed. 80 ships destroyed.

1768

St Patrick’s Day Rebellion

1772

Most powerful Hurricane of the century. ‘a war of rain’.

1773

Devastated by Hurricane.

1834

Slavery Abolition Act comes into effect

1843

1843 Earthquake. All masonry destroyed

5. Volcano island

The 1843 Earthquake View >
1853

Lime cultivation commences as demonstration of paid labour

1866

Hurricane

1867

Hurricane

1896

Extraordinary rains

1897 - 1900

Volcanic unrest. Earthquake swarm.

5. Volcano island

Earthquake Swarms 1897-1900

18th & 19th Century

The Volcano & Belham

View >
1899

Hurricane. Total devastation.

5. Volcano island

The 1899 Hurricane

18th & 19th Century

View >
1924

Hurricane

1928

Hurricane

1933-37

Volcanic unrest. Earthquake swarm.

5. Volcano island

Earthquake Swarms 1933-1937

18th & 19th Century

The Volcano & Belham

West (Plymouth)

View >
1965

Pan-American jet crash into Soufrière Hills. 30 killed

1965

Fire destroying George Street (Plymouth)

1966-67

Volcanic Unrest. Earthquake swarms

1979

AIR Studio Opens

1982

Arrow Releases ‘Hot Hot Hot’

1989

Hurricane Hugo. Total devastation

5. Volcano island

Hurricane Hugo 1989

18th & 19th Century

View >
1992-95

Volcanic Unrest. Earthquake swarms

5. Volcano island

Signs Just Before The Eruption

1995

East

The Volcano & Belham

West (Plymouth)

View >
July 18 1995

Eruption

2. Moving, Crossing and Leaving

This Is It

1995

1996

View >

5. Volcano island

Hurricane Hugo 1989

18th & 19th Century

View >

5. Volcano island

Earthquake Swarms 1933-1937

18th & 19th Century

The Volcano & Belham

West (Plymouth)

View >

5. Volcano island

The 1899 Hurricane

18th & 19th Century

View >

5. Volcano island

Earthquake Swarms 1897-1900

18th & 19th Century

The Volcano & Belham

View >

5. Volcano island

The 1843 Earthquake View >

5. Volcano island

Birth Of An Island View >

8. Timelines

Soufrière Hills Eruption Timeline

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000 +

View >

8. Timelines

An Eruption Of Science: Research Papers 1996-2020

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000 +

View >

8. Timelines

Fire From The Ashes: Montserrat’s Literary Timeline

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000 +

View >

8. Timelines

The Volcano In The News (1995-2000)

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000 +

View >