Bahamas in History
Historical Events
Event of Interest
1492-10-12 Christopher Columbus's expedition makes landfall on a Caribbean island he names San Salvador (likely Watling Island, Bahamas). The explorer believes he has reached East Asia (OS 21 Oct)
Christopher Columbus
- 1492-10-14 Christopher Columbus leaves San Salvador; arrives in Santa Maria of Concepcion (Bahamas)
- 1492-10-16 Christopher Columbus' fleet anchors at "Fernandina" (Long Island, Bahamas)
- 1492-10-19 Christopher Columbus sights "Isabela", now Fortune Island/Long Cay, Bahamas
Event of Interest
1629-10-30 King Charles I gives Bahamas to Sir Robert Heath
Charles I
- 1776-03-03 American commodore Esek Hopkins occupies Nassau, Bahamas
- 1879-01-09 Kirland Warbler discovered on Andros Island in Bahamas
Event of Interest
1959-01-07 American gangster Meyer Lansky flees Cuba for the Bahamas due to the Cuban Revolution and rise of Fidel Castro
Meyer Lansky
- 1964-01-07 Bahamas becomes self-governing
- 1965-02-24 Beatles begin filming "Help" in Bahamas
- 1965-11-13 "Yarmouth Castle" burns and sinks off Bahamas, killing 89
- 1967-01-16 1st black government installed in Bahamas
- 1968-10-14 Gruener & Watson (US) set scuba depth record (133 m) in Bahamas
- 1973-07-10 Bahamas declares Independence from UK & adopts constitution
- 1977-01-19 Snow falls in Miami, Florida. This is the only time in the history of the city that snowfall has occurred. It also fell in the Bahamas.
- 2005-08-23 Hurricane Katrina forms over the Bahamas, later becoming a category 5 hurricane
- 2012-10-26 Hurricane Sandy makes landfall in the Bahamas killing 2 people and causing over $300 million in damage
- 2014-02-07 German treasurer Helmut Linssen resigns amid a scandal involving offshore banking accounts in the Bahamas and Panama
- 2015-10-01 Cargo ship El Faro goes missing with 33 crew during Hurricane Joaquin near the Bahamas
Famous Birthdays
- 1874-11-12 Bert Williams, African American comedian and entertainer, born in Nassau, Bahamas (d. 1922)
- 1912-05-15 Alexis Nihon, Bahamas, wrestler (Olympics 1968)
- 1916-03-29 John Paul, British colonial administrator, Governor-General (Bahamas), born in Weymouth, Dorset (d. 2004)
- 1917-05-28 Gerald Cash, Gov-Gen (Bahamas)
- 1917-11-02 Durward Knowles, yachtsman (Olympic gold 1968-Bahamas), born in Nassau, Bahamas
- 1930-03-22 Lynden O Pindling, PM of Bahamas (1967-92)
- 1944-08-21 Perry Christie, former prime minister of the Bahamas, born in Nassau, Bahamas
- 1946-01-10 Alexis Nihon Jr, Bahamas, wrestler (Olympics 1968)
- 1949-08-22 Diana Nyad, American journalist and long-distance swimmer (1st to swim Bahamas to Fla-1979), born in NYC, New York
- 1964-01-20 Roger Smith, Freeport Bahamas, tennis doubles player
- 1968-04-03 Sebastian Bach [Bierk], Canadian heavy metal singer (Skid Row-Psycho Love), born in Freeport, Bahamas
- 1969-04-11 J Nick Adamson, Freeport Bahamas, US laser sailor (Olymp-21st-1996)
- 1974-02-08 Kimbo Slice [Kevin Ferguson], American mixed martial artist, born in the Bahamas (d. 2016)
Famous Weddings
- 1998-05-21 Supermodel Cindy Crawford (32) weds restaurateur Rande Gerber (36) on Paradise Island in the Bahamas
Wedding of Interest
1999-05-21 NFL legend Deion Sanders (31) weds model Pilar Biggers in Paradise Island, Bahamas
Deion Sanders
- 2005-04-16 "Survivor: All-Stars" winner Amber Mariano (26) weds The Amazing Race star Rob Mariano (29) at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas
- 2005-05-14 The Beverly Hills, 90210 actor Jason Priestley (35) weds British makeup artist Naomi Lowde at the One & Only Ocean Club on Paradise Island in the Bahamas
- 2007-05-06 "The Fast and the Furious" actress Jordana Brewster (27) weds movie producer Andrew Form (38) in Bahamas
Wedding of Interest
2008-06-28 Golfing legend Greg Norman (53) weds former tennis star Chris Evert (53) in Paradise Island, Bahamas
Greg Norman
Chris Evert
- 2008-08-07 Singer-songwriter Jewel Kilcher (34) weds rodeo champion Ty Murray (38) at The Cove Atlantis Resort in Paradise Island, Bahamas
Famous Deaths
- 1943-07-08 Harry Oakes, Canadian ruler of Bahamas, murdered