History

A wayward wind caused Christopher Colombus to discover the islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman in May of 1503. He named them 'Las Tortugas' ('the turtles', in Spanish), for the abundance of sea turtles he found around the islands. The current name is derived from the name that Sir Francis Drake gave them during his visit in 1586, "Caymanas".

"Caymanas" is derived from a Carib word for crocodiles. Crocodiles found here at the time were hunted as well as the turtles; while still uninhabited, the islands were a popular stopping off point for sailors to take on fresh water and food. Cayman also became a refuge for pirates and a focus for their raids.

The Islands became British under the Treaty of Madrid, 1670. The first recorded permanent settlers followed the first land grant by Britain in 1743. They were of British (mainly Scottish) origin, and came by way of Jamaica. 1788 saw the famous incident know as the Wreck of the Ten Sail, when a convoy of British ships on their way to Britain from Jamaica hit the reef in East End, and the local population showed great bravery in rescuing all those aboard. Legend has it that a royal personage was among those saved and in gratitude King George III granted Cayman freedom from conscription and/or taxation.

In 1832 a Legislative Assembly was established, and in 1849, a legal system put into place. In 1863 Cayman was placed under the direct control of Jamaica and later a Commissioner, appointed from Jamaica, took over the administration of the Islands.

When Jamaica became independent in 1962, Cayman opted to remain a dependant territory of the British Crown, with an Administer appointed by Britain. This title was changed to Governor in 1971.

Cayman and the Sea

Since the 1700s Caymanians have had a fine reputation as sailors and boat builders. The Islands at one point exported cotton, mahogany and sarsaparilla to Jamaica. These exports, combined with fishing, turtling and shipbuilding sustained the islands for over 150 years. As recently as 1906, over a fifth of the islands' population was seafarers. A close link with the sea is evident throughout Caymanian history and continues today, as visitors arrive from all over the world to explore the clear azure waters and beautiful coral reefs. The Cayman Islands are home to some of the pioneers in Scuba Diving, and the Islands are considered one of the best diving locations in the world.