Dominica

Quick Facts: Who was Dominica?

Subject:

Dominica

Known for:

Caribbean island nation known as the "Nature Island of the Caribbean"

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Dominica officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island country in the Caribbean. It is part of the Windward Islands chain in the Lesser Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean Sea. The capital, Roseau, is located on the western side of the island. Dominica's closest neighbours are two constituent territories of the European Union, both overseas departments of France: Guadeloupe to the northwest and Martinique to the south-southeast. Dominica comprises a land area of 750 km2 (290 sq mi), and the highest point is Morne Diablotins, at 1,448 m (4,751 ft) in elevation.

Career & Major Achievements

The population was 71,293 at the 2011 census. The island was settled by the Arawak arriving from South America in the fifth century. The Kalinago displaced the Arawak by the 15th century. Christopher Columbus is said to have passed the island on Sunday, 3rd November 1493. It was later colonised by Europeans, predominantly by the French from 1690 to 1763.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The French enslaved West Africans and transported them to Dominica to work on coffee plantations. Great Britain took possession in 1763 after the Seven Years' War and continued the legacy of forced labor to gain wealth, and gradually established English as its official language. The island gained independence as a republic in 1978. Dominica has been nicknamed the "Nature Island of the Caribbean" for its natural environment. It is the youngest island in the Lesser Antilles, and is still being formed by Geothermal-Volcanic activity, as evidenced by the world's second-largest hot spring, called Boiling Lake.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1493: 1493 Milestone — Christopher Columbus is said to have passed the island on Sunday, 3rd November 1493.
2. 1690: 1690 Milestone — It was later colonised by Europeans, predominantly by the French from 1690 to 1763.
3. 1763: 1763 Milestone — Great Britain took possession in 1763 after the Seven Years' War and continued the legacy of forced labor to gain wealth, and gradually established English as its official language.
4. 1978: 1978 Milestone — The island gained independence as a republic in 1978.
5. 2011: 2011 Milestone — The population was 71,293 at the 2011 census.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Dominica

True or False: “Did Christopher Columbus name Dominica after the day he sighted it, which was a Sunday?”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): Yes, Columbus named it Dominica because he first spotted the landmass on a Sunday, November 3, 1493.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Al Davis — Historical peer (Died in 2011) (2011): Pioneering NFL executive and coach, known for building the legendary Oakland Raiders.
• Alan Rubin — Historical peer (Died in 2011) (2011): American musician known for playing trumpet, flugelhorn, and piccolo trumpet.
• Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor — Historical peer (Died in 1493) (1493): Holy Roman Emperor and fourth King of the Romans from the House of Habsburg.
• Martín Alonso Pinzón — Historical peer (Died in 1493) (1493): Spanish mariner and explorer, pivotal figure in the voyages to the New World.
• Charles Le Brun — Historical peer (Died in 1690) (1690): Dominant 17th-century French painter, theorist, and court artist to Louis XIV.
• Abbé Prévost — Historical peer (Died in 1763) (1763): French novelist, best known for the highly popular romance, Manon Lescaut.
• Adalbert Gyrowetz — Historical peer (Born in 1763) (1763): Czech-Austrian composer known for symphonies and string quartets.
• Adolf Dassler — Historical peer (Died in 1978) (1978): Pioneering German cobbler and inventor who founded the sportswear giant Adidas.
• Aldo Moro — Historical peer (Died in 1978) (1978): Italian statesman who served as Prime Minister multiple times, championing the modern Italian centre-left.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dominica