The British Leeward Islands was a

British colony The British Overseas Territories (BOTs), also known as the United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs), are fourteen territories with a constitutional and historical link with the United Kingdom. They are the last remnants of the former Bri ...

from 1671 to 1958, consisting of the English (later British) overseas possessions in the

Leeward Islands french: Îles-Sous-le-Vent , image_name = , image_caption = ''Political'' Leeward Islands. Clockwise: Antigua and Barbuda, Guadeloupe, Saint kitts and Nevis. , image_alt = , locator_map = , location = Caribbean Sea North Atlantic Ocean , coo ...

. 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 Barb ...

–

Barbuda Barbuda (), is an island located in the eastern Caribbean forming part of the sovereign state of Antigua and Barbuda. It is located north of the island of Antigua and is part of the Leeward Islands of the West Indies. The island is a popular ...

–

Montserrat Montserrat ( ) is a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean. It is part of the Leeward Islands, the northern portion of the Lesser Antilles chain of the West Indies. Montserrat is about long and wide, with roughly of coastline. It is n ...

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 Federation of Saint Kitts and N ...

–

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 territor ...

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

History

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

, and

in one colony, and Saint Christopher,

, and the Virgin Islands 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 This is a list of viceroys of Antigua and Barbuda, from its initial colonisation in 1632 until its independence in 1981. Between 1671 and 1816, Antigua was part of the British Leeward Islands and its viceroy was the Governor of the Leeward Island ...

. 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 West Indies Federation. 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 = Brit ...

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,

, Dominica, and

. * Saint Kitts and Nevis Defence Force *

Royal Montserrat Defence Force The Royal Montserrat Defence Force is the home defence unit of the British Overseas Territory of Montserrat. History Raised in 1899, the unit is today a reduced force of about forty volunteer soldiers, primarily concerned with civil Defence and ...

* Royal Antigua Defense Force *

Dominica Defense Force The Dominica Defense Forces (DDF) was the military of the Commonwealth of Dominica. There has been no standing army in Dominica since 1981, when the Defense Force was disbanded in 1981 following two violent coup attempts against Dame Eugenia Charl ...

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)

Former countries in the Caribbean

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