Demerara

Quick Facts: Who was Demerara?

Subject:

Demerara

Known for:

A historical Dutch colony in South America, now part of modern Guyana.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Demerara (; Dutch: Demerary, [ˌdeːməˈraːri]) is a historical region in the Guianas, on the north coast of South America, now part of the country of Guyana. It was a colony of the Dutch West India Company between 1745 and 1792 and a colony of the Dutch state from 1792 until 1815. It was merged with Essequibo in 1812 by the British who took control. It formally became a British colony in 1815 until Demerara-Essequibo was merged with Berbice to form the colony of British Guiana in 1831. In 1838, it became a county of British Guiana until 1958.

Career & Major Achievements

In 1966, British Guiana gained independence as Guyana and in 1970 it became a republic as the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. It was located around the lower course of the Demerara River, and its main settlement was Georgetown. The name "Demerara" comes from a variant of the Lokono word immenary or dumaruni, which means "river of the letter wood" (wood of Brosimum guianense tree). Demerara sugar is so named because originally, it came from sugarcane fields in the colony of Demerara. Demerara was first mentioned in 1691 as a trading post.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

On 18 October 1745, Demerara was created as a separate colony, even though it was located on an unoccupied part of Essequibo, because the people from the province of Holland wanted to settle there and Essequibo was part of Zeeland. In the founding documents, it was mentioned that the colonists should live in peace with the Amerindian population and respect their territories, because they fought with the colony of Essequibo against the French privateers and helped to chase them off. The Amerindians were considered free people, and they were not allowed to enslave them. The first planter was Andries Pieterse who already owned a plantation in Essequibo. Half a year later, there were 18 large sugar plantations and 50 smaller plantations.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1691: 1691 Milestone — Demerara was first mentioned in 1691 as a trading post.
2. 1745: 1745 Milestone — It was a colony of the Dutch West India Company between 1745 and 1792 and a colony of the Dutch state from 1792 until 1815.
3. 1812: 1812 Milestone — It was merged with Essequibo in 1812 by the British who took control.
4. 1815: 1815 Milestone — It formally became a British colony in 1815 until Demerara-Essequibo was merged with Berbice to form the colony of British Guiana in 1831.
5. 1838: 1838 Milestone — In 1838, it became a county of British Guiana until 1958.
6. 1966: 1966 Milestone — In 1966, British Guiana gained independence as Guyana and in 1970 it became a republic as the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Demerara

True or False: “The initial name 'Demerara' was derived from the Lokono word meaning 'river of the letter wood'.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The name comes from a variant of the Lokono word immenary or dumaruni, which translates to 'river of the letter wood'.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alessandro Volta — Historical peer (Born in 1745) (1745): Pioneering Italian physicist, credited with the electric battery and electrochemistry.
• Andrianampoinimerina — Historical peer (Born in 1745) (1745): Founder of the unified Kingdom of Imerina, a pivotal figure in Malagasy history.
• Alexander Ypsilantis — Historical peer (Born in 1792) (1792): Greek nationalist, prince, and leader of the Filiki Etaireia during the struggle for independence.
• Anastasio Aquino's Rebellion — Historical peer (Born in 1792) (1792): Indigenous leader whose rebellion challenged Central American authority during early 19th-century El Salvador.
• Ada Lovelace — Historical peer (Born in 1815) (1815): Pioneering mathematician recognized as the first computer programmer.
• Adolph Menzel — Historical peer (Born in 1815) (1815): Pioneering German Realist master, celebrated for his detailed etchings and genre scenes.
• Alexander H. Stephens — Historical peer (Born in 1812) (1812): American politician, Vice President of the Confederacy, and Governor of Georgia.
• Alexander Herzen — Historical peer (Born in 1812) (1812): Pioneering Russian socialist thinker and writer, precursor to agrarian populism.
• Achim von Arnim — Historical peer (Died in 1831) (1831): German Romantic poet and novelist, key figure in German literature.
• Carl von Clausewitz — Historical peer (Died in 1831) (1831): Prussian military theorist whose work, On War, shaped modern strategic thought.

Frequently Asked Questions about Demerara