British Honduras

Quick Facts: Who was British Honduras?

Subject:

British Honduras

Known for:

A British Crown colony in Central America, evolving into the independent nation of Belize.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

British Honduras was a Crown colony on the Caribbean coast of Central America — specifically located on the southeastern edge of the Yucatán Peninsula — from 1783 to 1964. In 1964, it became a self-governing colony and was renamed Belize from June 1973 until September 1981, when it gained full independence as Belize. British Honduras was the last continental colony of the United Kingdom in the Americas. The colony grew out of the Treaty of Versailles (1783) between Britain and Spain, which gave the British rights to cut logwood between the Hondo and Belize rivers. The Convention of London (1786) expanded this concession to include the area between the Belize and Sibun rivers.

Career & Major Achievements

In 1862, the Settlement of Belize in the Bay of Honduras was declared a British colony called British Honduras, and the Crown's representative was elevated to a lieutenant governor, subordinate to the governor of Jamaica. In the early seventeenth century, English and Dutch pirate merchants, defying the Spanish who claimed sovereignty over the entire Caribbean coast, engaged in "sporadic but fairly frequent" smuggling from the Bay of Honduras. Large quantities of indigo and logwood were supplied to their home markets. At some point, the English operators began surreptitiously cutting logwood, as opposed to merely seizing Spanish-cut logwood. Although clear primary sources are lacking, the first English logging settlement in the territory is generally attributed to Peter Wallace's 1638 landing at the mouth of Haulover Creek which runs through what is now Belize City.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

As their interest turned in the 18th century from logwood to mahogany, the growing numbers of "Baymen" employed enslaved Africans, purchased in Jamaica and Bermuda. While they might be left in logging camps, without the whip-wielding drivers ubiquitous on large plantations elsewhere in the Americas, the enslaved were dependent on their owners for rations and supplies. Many of the enslaved maintained African ethnic identifications and cultural practices. Those of Ibo origin and descent were particularly numerous, a section of Belize being known as "Eboe Town." Following the 1786 Convention of London, the Spanish, who had chased out the Baymen four times between 1717 and 1780, accepted the Baymen as logwood concessionaires on condition that Great Britain evacuate her subjects from the Miskito Coast to the south. London directed the newly appointed superintendent for the Bay area concessions, Colonel Edward Despard, to accommodate these Shoremen.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1638: 1638 Milestone — Although clear primary sources are lacking, the first English logging settlement in the territory is generally attributed to Peter Wallace's 1638 landing at the mouth of Haulover Creek which runs through what is now Belize City.
2. 1783: 1783 Milestone — British Honduras was a Crown colony on the Caribbean coast of Central America — specifically located on the southeastern edge of the Yucatán Peninsula — from 1783 to 1964.
3. 1786: 1786 Milestone — The Convention of London (1786) expanded this concession to include the area between the Belize and Sibun rivers.
4. 1862: 1862 Milestone — In 1862, the Settlement of Belize in the Bay of Honduras was declared a British colony called British Honduras, and the Crown's representative was elevated to a lieutenant governor, subordinate to the governor of Jamaica.
5. 1964: 1964 Milestone — In 1964, it became a self-governing colony and was renamed Belize from June 1973 until September 1981, when it gained full independence as Belize.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: British Honduras

True or False: “The initial logging rights granted to Britain were exclusively limited to mahogany wood.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The original concession was for cutting logwood between the Hondo and Belize rivers.

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Frequently Asked Questions about British Honduras