(Federal) Colony of the Leeward Islands | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Anthem: "God Save the Queen/King" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Colony of the United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital | St. John's, Antigua | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common languages | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Religion | Christianity (Anglican,Catholic,Methodist) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Government | Constitutional monarchy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monarch | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
• 1671–1685 (first) | Charles II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
• 1952–1959 (last) | Elizabeth II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Governor in Chief | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
• 1671–1683 (first) | William Stapleton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
• 1956–1959 (last) | Alexander Williams | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
• Established | 1671 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
• Divided | 1816 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
• Reformed | 1833 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
• Federal colony | 1871 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
• Dominica joined | 1871 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
• Dominica left | 1940 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
• JoinedWest Indies Federation (except theBritish Virgin Islands) | 3 January 1958 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
• Dissolution of the British Leeward Islands, and replaced by theBritish Virgin Islands | 31 December 1959 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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TheBritish Leeward Islands was aBritish colony from 1671 to 1958, consisting of theEnglish (later British) overseas possessions in theLeeward Islands. It ceased to exist from 1816 to 1833, during which time it was split into two separate colonies (Antigua–Barbuda–Montserrat andSaint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla–Virgin Islands). It was dissolved in 1958 after the separation of the British Virgin Islands, and the remaining islands became parts of theWest Indies Federation.
The Leeward Islands was established as an English colony in 1671. In 1816, the islands were divided in two regions:Antigua,Barbuda, andMontserrat in one colony, andSaint Christopher,Nevis,Anguilla, and theVirgin Islands in the other.
The Leeward Islands were united again as a semi-federal entity in 1833, coming together until 1872 under the administration of theGovernor of Antigua. The islands then became known as theFederal Colony of the Leeward Islands from 1872 to 1956. From 1833 to 1940,Dominica was part of the colony; in 1940, it was transferred to theBritish Windward Islands group.[1]
On 3 January 1958, all islands except the Virgin Islands were absorbed into theWest Indies Federation. The British Leeward Islands finally ceased to exist with the abolition of the office of its governor, and the elevation of theBritish Virgin Islands to the status of a separate crown colony, in 1960.[2][3]
A representativeLeeward Islands cricket team continues to participate inWest Indian domestic cricket.
The armed forces of the colony included structures fromSaint Kitts and Nevis,Montserrat,Antigua,Dominica, andBritish Virgin Islands.[4]
The islands of the Leeward Islands all used postage stamps inscribed "LEEWARD ISLANDS" between 1890 and 1 July 1956, often concurrently with stamps inscribed with the colony's name. The islands also issued revenue stamps between 1882 and the 1930s.