Colony of Jamaica
Crown Colony of Jamaica and Dependencies | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1655–1962 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Motto: Indus Uterque Serviet Uni "The two Indies will serve as one" | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Anthem: God Save the Queen (1837–1901; 1952–1962) God Save the King (1745–1837; 1901–1952) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Colony of England (1655–1707) Colony of Great Britain (1707–1800) Colony of the United Kingdom (1801–1962) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital | Spanish Town (1655–1872) Port Royal (de facto, 1655–1692) Kingston (1872–1962) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common languages | English, Jamaican Patois, Spanish, Scottish Gaelic, Scots, Irish, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ethnic groups | Afro-Jamaican, Multiracial, European, Indian, Chinese, Arab, Jewish | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Religion | Christianity, Rastafari, Akan religion, Judaism | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Government | Vicegerency under a parliamentary republic (1655–1660) Viceroyalty under a constitutional monarchy (1660–1962) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Head of State | |||||||||||||||||||||||
• 1655–1658 | Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell | ||||||||||||||||||||||
• 1952–1962 | Queen Elizabeth II | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Governor | |||||||||||||||||||||||
• 1655 | William Penn | ||||||||||||||||||||||
• 1957–1962 | Sir Kenneth Blackburne | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief Minister | |||||||||||||||||||||||
• 1953–1955 | Alexander Bustamante | ||||||||||||||||||||||
• 1955–1962 | Norman Manley | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Legislature | Parliament | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Legislative Council | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| House of Representatives | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 May 1655 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
• Attachment of Bay Islands British Honduras Cayman Islands Turks and Caicos | 15 June 1852 1749 18 July 1670 4 April 1873 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
• Detachment of Bay Islands British Honduras Cayman Islands Turks and Caicos | 14 July 1860 2 October 1884 4 July 1959 4 July 1959 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 August 1962 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Population | |||||||||||||||||||||||
• 1943 | 1,249,900 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
• 1956 | 1,577,410 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Currency |
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| ISO 3166 code | JM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Crown Colony of Jamaica and Dependencies was a Crown colony of the British Empire from 1655 to 1962. English forces launched an invasion of Jamaica in 1655, capturing the existing Spanish colony. Jamaica was primarily used for exporting sugarcane from plantations operated by African slaves, and experienced several rebellions over the course of British rule. The colony was granted independence in 1962.