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1627
Founding of the Colony - Government comprised the Governor appointed by the
island's "Owners" (The Lord Proprietor) and a Council appointed
in turn by the Governor.
1629
The island was divided into six parishes.
1637
One account states that the sugar cane was first introduced to this island
in this year.
1639
Birth of Parliament. Representatives chosen from among the resident free-holders
to sit with the original Council as a Legislative body.
1640
Most writers agree that the manufacture of sugar started in the early 1640's.
1645
The island was divided into eleven parishes. The Assembly comprised 22 elected
members - two from each parish.
1651
On February 16, the inhabitants of the island declared their independence
of the Commonwealth of England
1652
Articles of Agreement signed, January 11, between England and Barbados ensuring
the "Rights of the People ." Ratified in English Parliament on August
18.
1663
A Postal Agency was established on the island to handle overseas mail.
1698
The Act to declare and ascertain the rights and powers of the General Assembly
of the island was proclaimed.
1731
The first Barbados newspaper, the Barbados Gazette, was published by David
Harry and Samuel Keimer.
1745
Barbados had the first institution of higher learning to be established in
a British colony when Codrington College, an affiliate of the University of
Durham, was opened in St. John.
1766
Bridgetown was destroyed by fire.
1816
A slave uprising led by the slave Bussa and a free mulatto - Washington Franklin.
1817
The free coloured were first allowed to give evidence in court.
1826
Legislation to ameliorate the condition of slaves was passed
The first verdict to establish the right of a slave to protection under the common law was given when Chief Justice John Renn Hampden sentenced John Archer, a white man to a year's imprisonment for manslaughter.
1831
Free coloured men were given the vote.
1834
Slavery was abolished and an enforced four-year apprenticeship period was
established.
1835
The Royal Barbados Police Force was established.
1838
August 1, emancipation of the slaves.
1840
Legislation enacted to allow coloured men to sit in the House of Assembly.
1843
Bridgetown became a separate constituency with two elected members. First
coloured representative (Samuel Jackman Prescod) elected to the Assembly.
1847
The founding of the Public Library.
1850
The first Education Act was passed.
1851
The inland mail service was authorized.
1852
The first Barbados postage stamps were issued.
1861
Waterworks established in Bridgetown.
1876
Confederation riots.
1878
Elementary education was introduced.
1881
The Executive Committee Act passed - the first step towards representative
Government - a direct result of the "Confederation Riots."
1884
Franchise fixed at 50 pounds property requirement.
1885
Barbados separated from Government of the Windward Islands.
1886
Piped water extended to rural districts.
1889
Establishment of the Royal Barbados Police Force Band.
1891
Executive Committee (Consolidation) Act passed.
1924
Charles Duncan O'Neal founded the Democratic League, the island's first organised
black political group.
1934
The election of Grantley Adams to the House of Assembly gave the black population
their first real spokesman in the legislature since Prescod in 1843.
1937
"The Disturbances" - The 1937 Riots occurred.
1938
This year saw the birth of the Barbados Labour Party.
1940
The Trade Union Act, which was passed in 1939, came into force on August 1,
1940.
The General Election saw for the first time in the history of the country a political party with a clearly defined programme, offer a slate of candidates to be elected to the House of Assembly.
1941
The Barbados Workers' Union was registered on October 4.
1944
Franchise lowered from 50 pounds to 20 pounds for property requirements -
women allowed to vote.
1946
The "Bushe Experiment" - the birth of party politics; the majority
leader in the House to elect the House members to sit in Executive Committee
and also to be leader of the House and Head of Government.
1950
Full representative government was established when Universal Adult Suffrage
was introduced. At the same time the maximum life of the House was extended
from three to five years.
1954
Ministerial Government was established. Sir Grantley Adams became the island's
first Premier.
1955
The Democratic Labour Party was formed by a group which broke away from the
Barbados Labour Party.
1958
Barbados became part of the West Indies Federation. Sir Grantley Adams became
first Prime Minister of the West Indies Federation.
The Cabinet system of Government was instituted.
1959
The first experiment with a common entrance examination to determine entrants
to Government Secondary Schools.
1961
Full internal Self-Government achieved. Mr. Errol Barrow became Premier.
1962
Dissolution of the West Indies Federation.
Free Secondary Education introduced.
1963
Voting age reduced from 21 to 18 years.
Abolition of fees in Government Secondary Grammar Schools.
1964
A Senate of 21 appointed members replaced the Legislative Council.
Legislation was passed permitting peaceful picketing.
1966
Visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh.
The "Barbados Independence Order" laid before Parliament.
Independence achieved November 30.
Right Honourable Errol Barrow became first Prime Minister.
1967
In April, the system of Local Government Council was dissolved and replaced
by an Interim Commissioner for Local Government.
On May 18, the island's first native Governor-General, Sir Winston Scott, was appointed.
The National Insurance and Social Security Scheme was initiated with the aim of introducing and developing on a phased basis, a comprehensive scheme of social security.
1968
Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) was established May 1, with Antigua,
Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago as the founding members. Dominica,
Grenada, St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, St. Lucia and St. Vincent joined the Association
on July 1, 1968.
1969
On September 1, all Local Government services were transferred from the interim
Commissioner to the Central Government and such statutory bodies as the Sanitation
and Cemeteries Board, the National Assistance Board and Parks and Beaches
Commission.
The Barbados Development Bank was established.
1971
The Democratic Labour Party led by the Rt. Honourable Errol Barrow won a two-thirds
majority in the General Election.
The system of single member constituencies was introduced when the island was divided into 24 electoral districts known as constituencies.
1972
The Central Bank of Barbados was established by an Act of Parliament.
1973
Representatives of four independent Commonwealth Caribbean Countries, Guyana,
Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados signed a treaty on July 4, establishing
the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on August 1.
1976
The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) led by Mr. J. M. G. M. (Tom) Adams, won a
two-thirds majority in the September General Election.
1978
The Barbados Defence Force was formally established.
1980
The Representation of the People's (Amendment) Act was passed to increase
the number of constituencies from 24 to 27.
1981
On June 18, the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), led by the Rt. Hon. J. M. G.
M. (Tom) Adams as Prime Minister was returned to power.
Hosting of CARIFESTA - the Regional Arts Festival. About 2,000 artists and performers from 33 Caribbean and Pan-American countries participated.
1982
April 8 - 11, the President of the United States, Mr. Ronald Reagan and Mrs.
Reagan paid an official visit to Barbados. This occasion marked the first
visit, while in office, of a United States President.
1983
Barbados played a pivotal role in the US-led intervention in Grenada after
the October coup.
1985
On March 11, the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. M. G. M. "Tom"
Adams died.
Mr. Harold Bernard "Bree" St. John, was sworn in as the country's new Prime Minister on March 11, following the death of the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. M. G. M. "Tom" Adams.
1986
On May 25, the Democratic Labour Party won 24 of the 27 seats contested in
the General Elections.
1987
Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Errol Walton Barrow died on June 1.
Mr. Lloyd Erskine Sandiford was sworn in as Barbados' new Prime Minister following the death of the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. E. W. Barrow.
1989
Barbados celebrated 350 years of unbroken parliamentary rule in June.
1990
Dame Nita Barrow became Barbados' first female Governor-General on June 6.
Electoral and Boundaries Commission Review of Boundaries Order to increase the number of seats in the House of Assembly from 27 to 28.
Order came into effect with dissolution of Parliament on December 29, 1990.
1991
The Democratic Labour Party, led by Prime Minister Erskine Sandiford was returned
to Office on January 22.
1993
Mr. Owen Arthur was appointed Leader of the Opposition following the resignation
of the party leader, Mr. Henry Forde in July.
1994
The Barbados Labour Party, led by Mr. Owen Arthur won 19 of the 28 seats contested
in the General Election.
1996
Sir Clifford Straughn Husbands, G.C.M.G., K.A., became the sixth Governor-General
of Barbados on June 1
1997
President Clinton’s visit: the President of the United States, Mr. Bill
Clinton and Mrs. Clinton paid an official visit to Barbados. The year also
marked the signing of the Martime Agreement between Barbados and the United
States.
The inauguration of the 1st Emancipation Day, August 1.
1998
President Fidel Castro’s visit: the President of the Republica of Cuba,
Fidel Castro visited Barbados. The occasion, to commemorate with the unveiling
of a plaque, the lives of those who perished in the Cubana airline crash of
1976, and participate in the emancipation day celebration.
The inauguration of the National Heroes’ Day, April 28.
1999
The Barbados Labour Party , led by Mr. Owen Arthur, won 26 of the 28 seats
contested in the General Election, January 20.
2000
Barbados wins its first individual Olympic medal as Obadele Thompson captures
bronze in the 100 metres final, in Sydney, Australia in September.
2003
The Barbados Labour Party, led by Mr. Owen Arthur, won 23 of the 30 seats
contested in the General Election, May 21.
2007
Barbados staged the Cricket World Cup Finals on April 28.
2007
Earthquake tremors measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale rock Barbados on November 29.
2008
The Democratic Labour Party, led by Mr. David Thompson, won 20 out of the 30 seats contested in the General Election on January 15.
2008
Singer Robyn Rihanna Fenty became the second Barbadian to win a Grammy Award when she won Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for her popular hit Umbrella featuring Jay-Z on February 10.
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