St. George's (formally the Town of St. George or St. George's Town), located on the

island An island (or isle) is an isolated piece of habitat that is surrounded by a dramatically different habitat, such as water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island ...

and within the

parish A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one o ...

of the same names (and on the northern side of St. George's Harbour, settled in 1612, is the first permanent English (and later British) settlement on the islands of

Bermuda ) , anthem = "God Save the King" , song_type = National song , song = "Hail to Bermuda" , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , mapsize2 = , map_caption2 = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = , es ...

. It is often described as the third permanent British settlement in the Americas, after Jamestown, Virginia (1607), and Cupids, Newfoundland (1610), and the oldest continuously-inhabited British town in the New World, since the other two settlements were seasonal for a number of years.

Nomenclature

Bermudian convention, where a

toponym Toponymy, toponymics, or toponomastics is the study of '' toponyms'' (proper names of places, also known as place names and geographic names), including their origins, meanings, usage and types. Toponym is the general term for a proper name of ...

contains the name of a person, is to render the person's name in the possessive form. The place is rarely treated as equivalent to the person. Among many examples of such place names in Bermuda are St. David's Island, Bailey's Bay,

Smith's Parish Smith's Parish is one of the nine parishes of Bermuda. It is named for English aristocrat Sir Thomas Smith/Smythe (1558–1625). Description It is located in the northeast of the main island, at the southern end of Harrington Sound, the large ...

(named for aristocrat Sir Thomas Smith), Sandys' Parish (named for Sir Edwin Sandys), Skeeters' Island (often mistakenly rendered "Skeeter's Island", it is named for ''Edward Skeeters'' and is also known as ''Burt's Island''), ''Gibb's Hill'', ''Barr's Bay'', ''Ackermann's Hill'', ''Nelly's Island'', Cooper's Island, Darrell's Island, ''Paynter's Vale'', ''Abbot's Head'' (or ''Abbot's Cliff''), and Fort St. Catherine's (on St. Catherines Point). The possessive form is also used for titles, as with ''Collector's Hill'' (named for the ''Collector of Taxes''). Maps of Bermuda have most often been produced by non-Bermudians and names given on them do not always conform to Bermudian practice. The use of the possessive form is not exclusive, however, as exemplified by place names such as the names of most of the parishes (which – other than St. George's Parish – all commemorate historical people), such as

Hamilton Parish Hamilton Parish (originally Bedford Parish) is one of the nine parishes of Bermuda. It was renamed for Scottish aristocrat James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Hamilton (1589-1625) when he purchased the shares originally held in the Virginia Company ...

(named for

James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Hamilton James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Hamilton and 4th Earl of Arran KG PC (1589 – 2 March 1625), styled Lord Aven from 1599 to 1604, was a Scottish politician. He was the son of John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Hamilton and Margaret Lyon. Career Ha ...

), Devonshire Parish (named for

William Cavendish, 1st Earl of Devonshire William Cavendish, 1st Earl of Devonshire (27 December 1552 – 3 March 1626) was an English nobleman, politician, and courtier. Early life William Cavendish was the second son of Sir William Cavendish and Bess of Hardwick. He was educate ...

), and Paget Parish. Some of these exceptions may have originated with changed syntax, as ''Devonshire Parish'' may originally have been ''The Parish of Devonshire''. This is seen with the ''City of Hamilton'' (named for Henry Hamilton, a former Governor of Bermuda). Whereas the City of Hamilton is commonly referred to as ''Hamilton'', The Town of St. George, St. George's Parish, St. George's Island, and St. George's Harbour (and any other toponym usually containing a person's name in the possessive form) always remains possessive when shortened, such as in the ''St. George's Foundation''. By example, Bermudians will always say ''St. George's and St. David's are the largest islands in St. George's Parish'', and never ''St. George and St. David are the largest islands in St. George Parish''. As many maps and other printed materials featuring Bermuda are produced abroad, it is extremely common to find maps, books and other material using the non-possessive forms, but visitors to Bermuda should be aware that using the non-possessive forms when speaking to Bermudians is likely to cause as much offence as saying "Bermudan" (although Bermudians, who pride themselves on politeness, are unlikely to respond rudely).

History

Originally called ''New London'', St. George's was first settled in 1612. This was three years after the first English settlers landed on St. George's Island on their way to

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

. Led by Admiral Sir George Somers and Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Gates, they had deliberately steered their ship, ''

Sea Venture ''Sea Venture'' was a seventeenth-century English sailing ship, part of the Third Supply mission to the Jamestown Colony, that was wrecked in Bermuda in 1609. She was the 300 ton purpose-built flagship of the London Company and a highly unusual ...

,'' onto a reef to escape a storm. The survivors built two new ships, the ''Deliverance'' and ''Patience'', and most continued their voyage to Jamestown, but the

Virginia Company The Virginia Company was an English trading company chartered by King James I on 10 April 1606 with the object of colonizing the eastern coast of America. The coast was named Virginia, after Elizabeth I, and it stretched from present-day Mai ...

laid claim to the island. Two men remained behind to maintain the company's possession of the archipelago (a third stayed when the ''Patience'' returned later that year). By the Virginia Company's Third Charter in 1612, the boundaries of the new colony were extended out to sea to include Bermuda. The company sent a party of 60 new settlers to Bermuda to join the three men left behind by the ''Sea Venture.'' After a brief period on neighbouring St. David's, the settlers started building structures at St. George's, located in a sheltered sound that kept ships protected from bad weather. In 1615, the shareholders of the Virginia Company created a second company, the

Somers Isles Company The Somers Isles Company (fully, the Company of the City of London for the Plantacion of The Somers Isles or the Company of The Somers Isles) was formed in 1615 to operate the English colony of the Somers Isles, also known as Bermuda, as a commerc ...

. It administered Bermuda separately until the company was dissolved in 1686. (The Virginia Company was dissolved in 1624). This small town was the capital of Bermuda until 1815; it was linked to the history of colonial America. Ten thousand Bermudians emigrated, primarily to Virginia and the

American Southeast The Southeastern United States, also referred to as the American Southeast or simply the Southeast, is a geographical region of the United States. It is located broadly on the eastern portion of the southern United States and the southern por ...

, before United States independence made them citizens of separate nations. Branches of wealthy Bermudian merchant families dominated trade in the area's ports. Bermudians settled towns in the South, and contributed greatly to the make up of the populations of several US states. As Bermuda's population centre, and only true port during this period, St. George's was connected to development in the North American colonies. During the American War of Independence, at the request of

George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of ...

, Bermudians assisted the American rebels in stealing much-needed

gunpowder Gunpowder, also commonly known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur, carbon (in the form of charcoal) and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). Th ...

from a St. George's magazine, which supplied the forts protecting the port. The powder was carried over the hill to Tobacco Bay, from where boats transported it to an American ship that lay offshore. During the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

, some British from St. George's evaded coastal blockades to provide supplies and munitions to the desperate Confederates. This trade was based in St. George's. King's Square forms the centre of St George's, where regular 17th-century re-enactments are held throughout the year. Excavations carried out by Bristol University and the Bermuda National Trust discovered the foundations here of the original 1612 governor's house. The Bermuda National Trust Museum is located on the square.

Ordnance Island Ordnance Island is located within the limits of St. George's Town, Bermuda. It lies close to the shore opposite the town square (King's Square), in St. George's Harbour. History The only island in the town, it covers just and was created ...

in St. George's Harbour, is situated south of King's Square. It holds a replica of ''Deliverance'' (one of the two ships built by the survivors of ''Sea Venture''), and a life-sized statue of Admiral of the Virginia Company, Sir

George Somers Sir George Somers (before 24 April 1554 – 9 November 1610) was an English privateer and naval hero, knighted for his achievements and the Admiral of the Virginia Company of London. He achieved renown as part of an expedition led b ...

, by Desmond Fountain. Somers, along with Sir Thomas Gates, had led the survivors of the 1609 wreck. The town has numerous historical sites, such as the old State House from 1620. Other than fortifications, this was the first stone building in Bermuda, built to house the

Parliament In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries. Th ...

. It is the oldest building on the island. Others of note are the Unfinished Church, the Old Rectory, St. Peter's (the oldest surviving Anglican and oldest continuously occupied

Protestant Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century against what its followers perceived to b ...

church in the Western hemisphere), the Tucker House, the Bermuda National Trust Museum, and the St. George's Historical Society Museum and the Featherbed Alley Printshop museum (both in the Mitchell House). In 1996, the town was twinned with

Lyme Regis Lyme Regis is a town in west Dorset, England, west of Dorchester and east of Exeter. Sometimes dubbed the "Pearl of Dorset", it lies by the English Channel at the Dorset–Devon border. It has noted fossils in cliffs and beaches on the Heri ...

, in

Dorset Dorset ( ; archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The ceremonial county comprises the unitary authority areas of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Dorset. Covering an area of , ...

, England, the birthplace of Admiral Sir George Somers. In 2000, the town, together with numerous surrounding fortifications, including the Castle Islands Fortifications, was designated as a

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...

, formally known as the Historic Town of St George and Related Fortifications.

Sports

St. George's Colts The St. George's Colts is a Bermudian football team based in St. George's, Bermuda. The club presently competes in the Bermudian Premier Division, the top tier of football in Bermuda Association football is one of the biggest sports in Bermud ...

and

football clubs play their games at the Wellington Oval, which also serves as a cricket ground.

Education

St. George's Preschool serves the area. St. George's Primary School is in the community.Home
St. George's Primary School. Retrieved on September 14, 2016. "A fantastic little school in the heart of the historic town of St. George's, Bermuda."

Notable people

* Robert John Simmons, who served in the

Bermuda Garrison The Bermuda Garrison was the military establishment maintained on the British Overseas Territory and Imperial fortress of Bermuda by the regular British Army and its local militia and voluntary reserves from 1701 to 1957. The garrison evolved f ...

before dying of wounds as a First Sergeant in the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment during the

United States Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

. *

Thomas Tudor Tucker Thomas Tudor Tucker (June 25, 1745May 2, 1828) was a Bermuda-born American physician and politician representing Charleston, South Carolina. He was elected from South Carolina in both the Continental Congress and the U.S. House. He later w ...

(1745 in St. George's – 1828 in Washington, D.C.) was a Bermuda-born American physician and politician representing Charleston, South Carolina. *

John Hamilton Gray John Hamilton Gray may refer to two 19th-century Canadian politicians: *John Hamilton Gray (Prince Edward Island politician) (1811–1887), Premier of Prince Edward Island *John Hamilton Gray (New Brunswick politician) John Hamilton Gray, (1 ...

QC (1814 in St. George's – 1889 in Victoria, British Columbia) was a politician in the Province of New Brunswick, Canada, a jurist, and one of the Fathers of Confederation * Reverend Robert Ashington Bullen FLS, FGS, FZS, FRAS (1850 St. George's – 1912 in UK) was an Anglican priest, a geologist and an authority on Mollusca

References

External links

St. George's Foundation
– From Bermuda Attractions
Town of St. George
Detailed info from Bermuda-Island.net
Webcam
At Harbour Radi

(located at Ft. George, above the Town)

Gallery

File:St. George's Harbour circa 1864.jpg, St. George's Harbour, ca. 1864. Confederate States of America, Confederate blockade runners are visible. File:Unfinished Church 2.jpg, The Unfinished Church File:Tucker_House_2.JPG, Entrance to The Tucker House File:George_Somers.jpg, Statue of

File:St. George's-1.jpg, View from the harbour File:Featherbed Alley Printshop Bermuda.jpg, The Featherbed Alley Printshop Museum File:Tucker House, Water Street & Barber's Alley, St George's, Bermuda.jpg, Tucker House (housing a museum of the Bermuda National Trust), on Water Street and Barber's Alley File:2016-06-11 St. George's Foundation's UNESCO World Heritage Centre, St. George's Town, Bermuda.jpg, The St. George's Foundation's UNESCO World Heritage Centre on Penno's Wharf {{DEFAULTSORT:Saint George's, Bermuda Populated places established in 1612 Populated places in Bermuda Populated places in colonial Virginia British colonization of the Americas World Heritage Sites in Bermuda Municipalities of Bermuda 1612 establishments in the British Empire