The British Leeward Islands was a British colony from 1671 to 1958, consisting of the English (later British) overseas possessions in the Leeward Islands. It ceased to exist from 1816 to 1833, during which time it was split into two separate colonies (

Antigua Antigua ( ), also known as Waladli or Wadadli by the native population, is an island in the Lesser Antilles. It is one of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region and the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua and Ba ...

– Barbuda– Montserrat and Saint Christopher–

Nevis Nevis is a small island in the Caribbean Sea that forms part of the inner arc of the Leeward Islands chain of the West Indies. Nevis and the neighbouring island of Saint Kitts constitute one country: the Saint Kitts and Nevis, Federation ...

–

Anguilla Anguilla ( ) is a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean. It is one of the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles, lying east of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and directly north of Saint Martin. The territ ...

–

Virgin Islands The Virgin Islands ( es, Islas Vírgenes) are an archipelago in the Caribbean Sea. They are geology, geologically and biogeography, biogeographically the easternmost part of the Greater Antilles, the northern islands belonging to the Puerto Ric ...

). It was dissolved in 1958 after the separation of the British Virgin Islands, and the remaining islands became parts of the

West Indies Federation The West Indies Federation, also known as the West Indies, the Federation of the West Indies or the West Indian Federation, was a short-lived political union that existed from 3 January 1958 to 31 May 1962. Various islands in the Caribbean tha ...

History

The Leeward Islands was established as an English colony in 1671. In 1816, the islands were divided in two regions:

, Barbuda, and Montserrat in one colony, and Saint Christopher,

, and the

in the other. The Leeward Islands were united again as a semi-federal entity in 1833, coming together until 1872 under the administration of the Governor of Antigua. The islands then became known as the Federal Colony of the Leeward Islands from 1872 to 1956. From 1833 to 1940, Dominica was part of the colony; in 1940, it was transferred to the British Windward Islands group. On 3 January 1958 all islands except the Virgin Islands were absorbed into the

. The British Leeward Islands finally ceased to exist with the abolition of the office of its governor, and the elevation of the

British Virgin Islands ) , anthem = " God Save the King" , song_type = Territorial song , song = "Oh, Beautiful Virgin Islands" , image_map = File:British Virgin Islands on the globe (Americas centered).svg , map_caption = , mapsize = 290px , image_map2 = Bri ...

to the status of a separate crown colony, in 1960. A representative Leeward Islands cricket team continues to participate in West Indian domestic cricket.

Armed forces structure in 1939

The armed forces of the colony included structures from

Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis (), officially the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, is an island country and microstate consisting of the two islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis, both located in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands chain ...

, Montserrat,

, Dominica, and

. * Saint Kitts and Nevis Defence Force * Royal Montserrat Defence Force * Royal Antigua Defense Force * Dominica Defense Force

Postage stamps

The islands of the Leeward Islands all used postage stamps inscribed "LEEWARD ISLANDS" between 1890 and 1 July 1956, often concurrently with stamps inscribed with the colony's name. The islands also issued revenue stamps between 1882 and the 1930s.

References

Sources

External links

Leeward Islands – Flag
{{DEFAULTSORT:British Leeward Islands .Leeward Islands Leeward Islands (Caribbean) Leeward Islands Former countries in the Caribbean Leeward Islands Former federations History of British Antigua and Barbuda History of British Dominica History of British Saint Christopher and Nevis Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla States and territories established in 1833 States and territories disestablished in 1978 1830s establishments in the Caribbean 1833 establishments in the British Empire 1978 disestablishments in the British Empire 1833 establishments in North America 1978 disestablishments in North America British Windward Islands