Spanish Town
Spanish Town is the capital and the largest town in the parish
of St. Catherine in the county of Middlesex, Jamaica.
It was the former Spanish and English capital of Jamaica from the 16th to the 19th century. The
town is home to numerous memorials, the national archives, a small population,
and one of the oldest Anglican churches outside of England (the others
are in Virginia, Maryland and Bermuda).
of St. Catherine in the county of Middlesex, Jamaica.
It was the former Spanish and English capital of Jamaica from the 16th to the 19th century. The
town is home to numerous memorials, the national archives, a small population,
and one of the oldest Anglican churches outside of England (the others
are in Virginia, Maryland and Bermuda).
The Spanish settlement of Villa de la Vega was founded by governor Francisco de Garay in 1534 as the capital of the colony.
Later, it was also called Santiago de la Vega or St. Jago de
la Vega. Indigenous Taino had been living in the area for
approximately a millennium before this, but this was the first European
habitation on the south of the island.
When the English conquered Jamaica in 1655, they renamed the settlement as
Spanish Town. Since the town was badly damaged during the conquest, Port
Royal took on many administrative roles and functioned as an
unofficial capital during the beginning of English rule. By the time Port Royal
was devastated by an earthquake in 1692, Spanish Town had been rebuilt
and was again functioning as the capital. Spanish Town remained the capital
until 1872, when the seat of the colony was moved to Kingston.
Kingston had been founded in the aftermath of the 1692 earthquake. By 1755,
serious rivalry from lobbyists caused increasing speculation about the continued
suitability of Spanish Town as the capital. In 1836, Governor Lionel Smith
observed that "the capital was in ruins, with no commercial, manufacturing and
agricultural concern in operation." To
worsen the situation, following the Morant Bay Rebellion of 1865, Sir John Peter Grant ordered the removal of the
capital in 1872 to Kingston. As a larger port, it had come to be considered the
natural capital of the island. After the seat of government was relocated,
Spanish Town lost much of its economic and cultural vitality
Later, it was also called Santiago de la Vega or St. Jago de
la Vega. Indigenous Taino had been living in the area for
approximately a millennium before this, but this was the first European
habitation on the south of the island.
When the English conquered Jamaica in 1655, they renamed the settlement as
Spanish Town. Since the town was badly damaged during the conquest, Port
Royal took on many administrative roles and functioned as an
unofficial capital during the beginning of English rule. By the time Port Royal
was devastated by an earthquake in 1692, Spanish Town had been rebuilt
and was again functioning as the capital. Spanish Town remained the capital
until 1872, when the seat of the colony was moved to Kingston.
Kingston had been founded in the aftermath of the 1692 earthquake. By 1755,
serious rivalry from lobbyists caused increasing speculation about the continued
suitability of Spanish Town as the capital. In 1836, Governor Lionel Smith
observed that "the capital was in ruins, with no commercial, manufacturing and
agricultural concern in operation." To
worsen the situation, following the Morant Bay Rebellion of 1865, Sir John Peter Grant ordered the removal of the
capital in 1872 to Kingston. As a larger port, it had come to be considered the
natural capital of the island. After the seat of government was relocated,
Spanish Town lost much of its economic and cultural vitality