Trinidad and Tobago History

Christopher Columbus discovers Trinidad and Tobago

Jul 31, 1498

Christopher Columbus visits the islands, naming Trinidad after the three peaks at its south-east corner and Tobago after a local type of tobacco pipe.

Trinidad Colonized

Jan 1, 1532

Spain colonizes Trinidad and appoints a governor to rule over the island.

French Capture Tobago

Jan 5, 1781

The French capture Tboago from the Spanish and transform Tobago into a sugar-producing colony.

Great Britain Captures Trinidad

Feb 21, 1797

A British naval expedition captures Trinidad from Spain during the Invasion of Trinidad in 1797.

Treaty of Amiens

Mar 27, 1802

Ends the Invasion of Trinidad as Spain cedes Trinidad to Great Britain under the Treaty of Amiens.

Great Britain Gets Tobago

Feb 10, 1814

Following the French and Indian War, France cedes Tobago to Great Britain in the Treaty of Paris. Great Britain did not arrive to Tobago until 1814, despite getting Tobago in 1763.

Trinidad and Tobago Made Into One

Jan 17, 1889

Trinidad and Tobago are administratively combined as a single British colony.

Trinidad and Tobago Receives Internal Self-Governmeent

Apr 16, 1959

Great Britain gives Trinidad and Tobago internal self-government with Eric Williams as prime minister, also known as ‘The Father of The Nation’, who is a moderate nationalist. Eric Williams also founded the People's National Movement (PNM) in 1956.

Trinidad and Tobago Becomes Independent

Aug 31, 1962

Trinidad and Tobago leaves the British-sponsored West Indies Federation that they joined in 1958. Trinidad and Tobago also becomes independent with Eric Williams as prime minister.

Trinidad and Tobago Becomes A Republic

Aug 1, 1976

Trinidad and Tobago becomes a republic with the former governor-general, Ellis Clarke, as president and Eric Williams as prime minister, with George Chambers replacing Eric Williams as prime minister following Williams’s death on March 29, 1981.

Noor Hassanali As President

Mar 30, 1987

Noor Hassanali becomes the second president of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Patrick Manning As Prime Minister

Dec 17, 1991

Patrick Manning first becomes prime minister after his People’s National Movement party wins general election. Manning would later be prime minister a second time in December 2001, after three general elections in three years to end months of political deadlock, and beating Basdeo Panday’s United National Congress twenty seats to sixteen seats. Patrick Manning would win the election to be prime minister a third time on November 4, 2007.

Death March

Oct 14, 2005

In 2005, at least 10,000 people took part in a protest - named the Death March - against a soaring rate of violent crime.

First Female Prime Minister

May 14, 2010

People's Partnership coalition wins snap elections as Kamla Persad-Bissessar becomes Triniad and Tobago's first female prime minister.