Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
plagued the settlers from the outset - their ship being dam-
aged by storms, then fire, the tiny settlement attacked by pi-
rates, sickness and finally a hurricane.
So, it was not until May 23, 1672, when a group of 104 people
landed on St. Thomas, that real settlement took place. Their
ship,
The Pharoah
, carried farming tools, furniture, con-
struction materials, experienced planters, a minister,
George Iverson (the first governor), and an unsightly group
of convicts and ladies of ill repute.
King Christian V, granted a charter to the Danish West In-
dia Company to develop the island. They constructed Fort
Christian (still standing) and the entire colony lived within
its walls. At the same time, plantations were parceled out
and tobacco, foodstuffs and sugar cane were planted. Tav-
erns constructed along the waterfront attracted sailors, pri-
vateers, and the settlers themselves.
Did you know?
The town was called “Tap
Hus,” or Beer Hall, until 1691, when it was
renamed Charlotte Amalie in honor of King
Christian's wife.
In 1673, the first shipload of slaves arrived on the island
from West Africa to work on the plantations. About 28,000
slaves worked here overall. In 1685, governors Nicolas and
Adolph Esmit allowed the island to be used as a pirate ref-
uge and storage center. The pirate's booty was used to make
life more comfortable. St. Thomas, so close to the trade route
between South America and Europe, was a natural hiding
spot for the pirate bands. Pirate legends abound on the is-
land and Drake's Seat, from which Sir Francis watched his
men set sail to plunder Spanish galleons, is a popular tourist
spot, as is Bluebeard's Castle (now a hotel).
In 1764, King Frederick V declared St. Thomas a free port
and prosperous merchants replaced pirates. They built large
warehouses on the waterfront and Dronningen's Gade
(Main Street) to store the goods being shipped abroad. In the
mid-18th century a group of French-speaking farmers and
