key history

SLAVERY

St. Helena was colonised by the English in 1659, and at that time the use of slaves was commonplace. Slaves were first brought mostly from East Africa or Madag...

Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte (15th August 1769 to 5th May 1821), also known as Emperor Napoleon I, was a military and political leader of France whose actions shaped ...

Built Heritage

There is an abundance of interesting historic buildings on St Helena which you can explore.  In Jamestown alone, excluding the wharf, there are 18 Grade I List...

Famous Visitors

Throughout its history St. Helena has had few famous visitors. Below are some of them.   1588. SIR THOMAS CAVENDISH Sir Thomas Cavendish, 19t...

Famous Exiles

St. Helena’s role as a prison island started a long time before Napoleon. Portuguese Nobleman Fernão Lopez became a voluntary exile here as early as 1515, a...
Boer Cemetery, St Helena Island

Boer Prisoners

From 1900 to 1902 St. Helena had to to house nearly 6,000 Boer prisoners-of-war.  The first shipment of 514 prisoners arrived on the 10th April 1900, includin...