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Bermuda's History from 1800 to 1899

The island's nineteenth century social and economic development

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By Keith Archibald Forbes (see About Us) exclusively for Bermuda Online

To refer to this web file, please use "bermuda-online.org/history1800-1899.htm" as your Subject

History to 1699 History 1700-1799 History 1800-1899 History 1900-1951 History 1952-1999 History2000to2006

1800-1899

1820-1830

1830-1837

  • On the death of George IV, King William IV (see right) ascended the throne.
  • 1830s. Construction of HM Dockyard in Bermuda was expedited.
  • 1832. In June, a hurricane struck Bermuda and did great damage.
  • 1833. Population of Bermuda was  9,125 (62,400 in 2001). Of the 1833 population, 4297 were white, 3612 were slaves and 1,286 were free blacks.
  • 1834. August 1. Slavery was formally abolished in Bermuda, with great rejoicing from the black population. It had been abolished years earlier in the United Kingdom but overseas landowners and slave owners were so slow in complying that legislation was necessary. All former slaves and "freed black" men and women were given the same rights and privileges enjoyed by the other inhabitants of the colony. But this did not apply to voting. An Act to fix the qualifications for jurors, voters, and the electors and candidates for certain offices and positions of trust was introduced. The voting qualification was raised from a property value of £40 to £100, and to run as a member of the House, from £200 to £400. The population was given as 8,818 - 4259 white and 4559 black. There were fewer people in Bermuda than a year earlier.
  • 1834. First steam boat arrived in Bermuda.
  • 1835. Fort Victoria in St. George's Parish was completed. It had a water well 124 feet deep, in use until World War 2.
  • 1835. A law was passed in Bermuda to encourage the education of poor white children.
  • 1835. Slave ship Enterprise, traveling from Jamestown and Alexandria, VA to Charleston, SC, got blown off course by a hurricane and landed at Bermuda. The ship's master was Elliot Smith. He carried with him a manifest that made no mention of slaves but instead listed the ship's cargo as tobacco, bricks and feed. But 78 slaves were discovered on board, some men but mostly women, children and babies. Captain Smith  was informed by customs officials that because Emancipation had occured a year earlier, the ship's cargo was illegal under Bermuda law and the slaves were entitled to their freedom. When Smith tried to flee in defiance, the island's Friendly Societies intervened. They were organizations that provided support to and looked after the welfare of the black community in the period after Emancipation. They appealed to the court and obtained a writ of habeas corpus from the Chief Justice to have the slaves freed. They were brought ashore and taken to court. It was then discovered that many of them had been kidnapped by raiders from plantation houses in the free state of Washington-Maryland. The court asked them if they wanted to remain as slaves or stay in Bermuda as free men and women and children. Only one wished to return to the USA.
King William IV

1837-1899

Golden Rule

Ship Golden Rule

Mary Celestia

Sinking of the Mary Celestia, 1864

Floating Dock 1

Floating Dock 2

Floating Dock arrives in Bermuda 1869

Ships that towed the floating dock

HMS Eurydice sinking

HMS Eurydice sinking of the Isle of Wight

History to 1699 History 1700-1799 History 1800-1899 History 1900-1951 History 1952-1999 History2000to2006

125+ files on other aspects of Bermuda

Last Updated: May 15, 2008
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