Saint-Barthélemy
 

6 Mar 1785 - 16 Mar 1878   Adopted 16 Mar 1878   Adopted 22 Feb 2007 (Logo adopted 1977) Collectivité Flag Adopted May 2018 Map of Saint-Barthélemy Hear National Anthem "La Marseillaise" Hear Local Anthem "L'Hymne à Saint-Barthélemy" (Hymn to St. Barthelemy) Adopted 11 Dec 1999 Constitution  (28 Sep 1958) Capital: Gustavia (Le Carénage to Feb 1787) Currency: Euro (EUR); to 1 Jan 2002 French Franc (FRF) National Holiday: 14 Jul (1789) Fête Nationale  (National Holiday "Bastille Day") -------------------------------------- Local Holiday: 24 Aug (1572) Fête de la Saint-Barthélemy (Saint Barthelemy Day) Population: 11,550 (2026) 2,898 (1866) GDP: $1.09 billion (2023) Exports: $12.7 million (2024) Imports: $237 million (2024) Ethnic groups: French, Portuguese, Caribbean, Afro-Caribbean Total Police Force: 11 (2012) Defense is the Responsibility of France Merchant marine: None (2023) Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant (Anglican and Pentecostal) International Organizations/Treaties: ACS (associate), UPU Saint- Barthélemy Chronology 1493                       Saint-Barthélemy is discovered with the other                              Antilles islands and presumably named after                              Bartolomé Colón, brother of the discoverer                              Cristóbal Colón (Christopher Columbus), although                              there is no clear reference to it in any document                              relating to the Columbian voyages. 1523                       The island appears as San Bartoleme on a Spanish map                              of 1523. 1629                       A Spanish attack on the English-French island of St.                              Christopher results in French privateer Pierre                              Belain d'Esnambuc agreeing to leave that island                              with all his people, numbering about 400. He                              leaves several of them on Saint-Barthélemy,                              promising he will come back as soon as possible.                              The Spanish have meanwhile evacuated St.                              Christopher so he retrieves the colonists he left                              and returns. This temporary visit marks the first                              time any settlement was established on Saint-                              Barthélemy. 1648                       French possession (Saint-Barthélemy), first                              settlement from Saint Christopher by Philippe de                              Longvilliers de Poincy, commander of the Order of                              Malta, captain-general of St. Christopher. 24 May 1651                Compagnie des Îles de l'Amérique sells right to                              administer Saint-Barthélemy (and other islands)                              to the Knights of Malta. 24 May 1651 -  4 Jan 1666  Administered by the Knights of Malta (abandoned                              1656-1659). 1656                       The Caribs make a surprise raid at night, and the                              colonists are massacred almost totally, the                              remainder flee to St. Christopher. 1659                       Governor Poincy sends about 30 colonists again to                              Saint-Barthélemy. 10 Aug 1665                The island (and the French portion of Saint-Martin)                              is purchased back from the Order of Malta by the                              French Compagnie des Indes Occidentales (Company                              of the West Indies)(effected 4 Jan 1666). 1674 -  7 Mar 1785         Saint-Barthélemy becomes part of the royal domain                              and the colony of Guadeloupe. 1688 - 1697                During the War of the League of Augsburg, the                              inhabitants of Saint-Barthélemy are considered too                              weak to defend themselves and are evacuated to                              St. Christopher, while under French rule. But the                              English shortly capture St. Christopher and most                              of the French from Saint-Barthélemy go back to                              their island.  4 Jan 1690 - 26 Jan 1690  English occupation (Saint Bartholomew), French                              settlers are briefly deported. 1744                       During the War of the Austrian Succession (1743-48),                              the English pool their forces, attack Saint-                              Barthélemy, and win despite sharp resistance for                              several days, during which the commander of the                              island, Jacques Gréaux, is killed. The English                              capture the French privateers and install their                              own buccaneers in the Carénage. The English also                              deport many families to St. Christopher. That                              island's governor, however, gives the exiles the                              choice of staying in St. Christopher or returning                              to Saint-Barthélemy; all return to their island. 1744 - 15 Mar 1764         British occupation. 15 Mar 1764                The French reclaim the island after the Seven Years'                              War. Jan 1779 - 28 Feb 1779     British occupation. 17 Mar 1781 - 26 Nov 1781  British occupation (Saint Bartholomew).  1 Jul 1784                Sweden signs a treaty with France by which Sweden                              acquires Saint-Barthélemy in exchange of trading                              privileges for the French in Göteborg.  7 Mar 1785 - 16 Mar 1878  Swedish colony (Sankt Barthélemy)(by treaty of                              1 Jul 1784 with France)(with interruption 1801-02) 16 Apr 1785                Saint-Barthélemy is proclaimed a free port.  1 Jan 1787 - 22 May 1805  Under Swedish West India Company (Svenska                              Västindiska Kompaniet) administration. 20 Mar 1801 - 10 Jul 1802  British occupation (Saint Bartholomew). 12 Nov 1807                The French carry out a surprise attack holding                              Gustavia and its immediate surroundings for less                              than 24 hours led by major Mitton. 1812 - 1845                Personal property of the King of Sweden, as part of                              the crown estates. 28 Jul 1845                United States declines an offer from the King of                              Sweden to purchase Saint-Barthélemy.  9 Oct 1847                Slavery is formally abolished. 10 Aug 1877                French government consents to take the island back                              as its territory by treaty, if that is the wish of                              the islanders (ratified 4 Mar 1878). In plebiscite                              out of 352 votes all but one are cast for France. 16 Mar 1878                French possession (the governor of Guadeloupe,                              Gabriel Couturier, takes possession). 27 Jul 1878                Saint-Barthélemy an island dependency of Guadeloupe. 24 Jun 1940 - 14 Jul 1943  Administration loyal to Vichy France                              (from 14 Jul 1943, under Free French).   19 Mar 1946                Guadeloupe (including Saint-Barthélemy) becomes an                              overseas département.  1 Jan 1948 -  7 Feb 1963  Saint-Barthélemy made a canton of the arrondissement                              La Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe overseas département.  7 Feb 1963 -  9 Jul 2007  Part of the arrondissement of Saint-Martin-Saint-                              Barthélemy (also called Îles du Nord) within the                              Guadeloupe overseas département (see under                              Saint-Martin). 10 Oct 1996                The Nature Reserve of Saint-Barthélemy (Réserve                              Naturelle de Saint-Barthélemy) established, it                              covers 1,200 hectares (approx. 3,000 acres) of                              land and marine environment in five sectors: Gros                              Îlets and Pain de Sucre off Gustavia harbor; the                              waters surrounding the islets Fourchue, Frégate                              and Île Toc Vers; and part of Colombier Bay.  7 Dec 2003                Saint-Barthélemy votes overwhelmingly (95.5%) to                              to become a separate territory of France.  9 Jul 2007                Saint-Barthélemy made a separate French overseas                              collectivité (Collectivité de Saint-Barthélemy)                              (by law of 21 Feb 2007) as is Saint-Martin. Both                              come under a joint prefect based in Saint-Martin.  1 Jan 2012                Saint-Barthélemy ceased being an outermost region                              and left the European Union to become an overseas                              territory (unlike the other French Caribbean                              territories).  1 Oct 2018                Maritime boundary between Saint-Barthélemy, France                              and Antigua and Barbuda established (by agreement                              signed in St. John's, Antigua on 15 Mar 2017). 10 Feb 2025                Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Marting created a full                              prefecture (préfecture de Saint-Barthélemy et de                              Saint-Martin), no longer dependent on Guadeloupe.

Commandants
1648 - 1656                Jacques Gente
1656 - 1659                abandoned
16.. -  1 Jan 1666         sieur du Guery
 1 Jan 1666 - 16..         sieur Beauplan
1673 - 16..                ....
c.1687                     Legrand
                             (captain-commandant)
1687/88 -  4 Jan 1690      Henri Charles de Vaultier, sieur   (d. 1690)
                             de Moyencourt
 4 Jan 1690 - 26 Jan 1690  Sir Timothy Thornhill              (b. 1648? - d. 1693)
                             (English commander)
26 Jan 1690 - 1698         abandoned
31 Mar 1698  (1 day)       de la Hogue                        (d. 1700)
                             (held title to 19 Dec 1700)     
 1 Apr 1698 - af.1700      Vacant
1713 - 1719?               Alexandre Vaultier de Moyencourt,  (b. 1658 - d. 1728)
                             comte de Moyencourt
c.1720 - c.1730?           Jacques Gréaux
c.1732                     Christophe Mahieu
17.. - 1744                Jacques Gréaux, Jr.                (d. 1744)
1744                       Véret (acting)
1744 - 1764                British occupation
1764                       Alexis Brin (acting)
1764 - 1771                René Camille, comte de Carné de    (b. 1719 - d. 1785)
                             Trécesson
1771 - c.1774              Pierre Bernier
 6 Jun 1775 - Jan 1779     Alexandre René d'Agneau-Douville   (b. 1736 - d. 1789)
                             (1st time)
Jan 1779 - 28 Feb 1779     British occupation
28 Feb 1779 - Jan 1784     Alexandre René d'Agneau-Douville   (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
17 Mar 1781 - 26 Nov 1781  Lawrence Graeme -British commander
1784? -  7 Mar 1785        Jean Sébastien, chevalier de Durat (b. 1757 - d. 1814)
                             (interim governor)
1784? -  7 Mar 1785        Laurent François Isnard (commander)(d. 1787)
Governors
 7 Mar 1785 - 23 Apr 1787  Salomon Mauritz friherre von       (b. 1757 - d. 1825)
                             Rajalin
23 Apr 1787 -  6 Jun 1790  Pehr Herman Rosén von Rosenstein   (b. 1763 - d. 1799)
 6 Jun 1790 - 17 Nov 1795  Carl Fredrik Bagge af Söderby      (b. 1750 - d. 1828)
17 Nov 1795 - 26 Jan 1801  Georg Henrik Johan af Trolle       (b. 1763 - d. 1824)
26 Jan 1801 - 14 Feb 1812  Hans Henrik Anckarheim             (b. 1748 - d. 1814)
                             (British prisoner 21 Mar - 10 Jul 1802)
20 Mar 1801 - 10 Jul 1802  Sir Thomas Trigge -U.K. commander  (b. 1741 - d. 1814)
21 Mar 1801 - 1801         John Wilson -U.K. military governor(b. c.1764 - d. 1818)
                             (acting)
1801 - 1802                Cranstow -U.K. governor
14 Feb 1812 - 10 Aug 1816  Bernt Robert Gustaf Stackelberg    (b. 1784 - d. 1845)
10 Aug 1816 - 10 Dec 1818  Johan Samuel Rosensvärd            (b. 1782 - d. 1818)
19 Sep 1818 - 20 Aug 1819  Carl Fredrik Berghult              (b. 1794 - d. 1834)
                             (acting [for Rosensvärd to 10 Dec 1818])
20 Aug 1819 - 27 Apr 1826  Johan Norderling                   (b. 1760 - d. 1828)
27 Apr 1826 - 11 Oct 1833  James Harlev Haasum                (b. 1791 - d. 1871)
                            (= James Haarlef Haasum)
                           + Lars Gustaf Morsing              (b. 1794 - d. 1860)
11 Oct 1833 - Aug 1858     James Harlev Haasum                (s.a.)
Aug 1858 - 11 Aug 1868     Fredrik Carl Ulrich                (b. 1808 - d. 1868)
11 Aug 1868 -  4 Dec 1868  Georg Wilhelm Netherwood (acting)  (b. 1828 - d. 1903)
 4 Dec 1868 - 16 Mar 1878  Bror Ludvig Ulrich                 (b. 1818 - d. 1887)         
                             (acting to 10 Sep 1870)
Jun 1874 -  5 Nov 1875     Frans Alarik Helleday              (b. 1842 - d. 1896)
                             (acting for Ulrich)
Prefects to the State Representative in the Collectivités of Saint-Martin and
of Saint-Barthélemy (until 10 Feb 2025, Préfets délégués auprès du représentant de l'État dans les collectivités de Saint-Martin et de Saint-Barthélemy [delegated to the prefect of Guadeloupe, who was from 9 Jul 2007, also Representative of the State in the Collectivité of Saint-Barthélemy])
 9 Jul 2007 -              the Prefects of Saint-Martin

Resident
17 Mar 1878 -  4 Nov 1878  Jean-Bertrand Auguste Cochet       (b. 1829 - d. 1897)
Mayors (maires de Saint-Barthélemy)
 4 Nov 1878 - Mar 1900     Hippolyte Duchatellard             (b. c.1833 - d. 1915)
Mar 1900 - 1913            Jean-Bertrand Sourd                (b. 1859 - d. 1918)
1913 - 1919                Louis Déravin                      (b. 1876 - d. 1948)
Dec 1919 - May 1925        Théodore Lédée                     (b. c.1840 - d. 19..)
17 May 1925 - 31 Mar 1927  Adolphe Louis Marie Joseph Leroy   (b. 1860 - d. 1927)
1927 - 1929                Eugène Magras (acting to ... 1927)
1929 - 1931                Ruben Déravin (1st time)           (b. 1870 - d. 1941)
1931 - 1933                Stephan Tara
1933 - 17 Dec 1941         Ruben Déravin (2nd time)           (s.a.)
1941 - 1942                Clément Joseph Lédée (1st time)    (b. 1884 - d. 1945)
1942 - 1943                Jean Lédée    
1943 - 1944                Clément Joseph Lédée (2nd time)    (s.a.)
1944 - 1947                Raynal Servais Emmanuel Rosey      (b. 1901 - d. 1950)   Ind;1947 RI
                             (head of delegation to 1945)
1947 - 1962                Alexandre Magras                   (b. 1917 - d. 2016)   RI
1962 - 1977                Rémy de Haenen                     (b. 1916 - d. 2008)   UNR + DVD
Mar 1977 - Mar 1983        Charles Querrard                   (b. 1948)
 8 Mar 1983 - 1995         Daniel Blanchard                   (b. 1946)             MAPA-SB
Jun 1995 - 15 Jul 2007     Bruno Magras                       (b. 1951)            MAPA-SB/UMP
Presidents of the Territorial Council
15 Jul 2007 -  3 Apr 2022  Bruno Magras                       (s.a.)           SBDA+UMP;2015 LR
 3 Apr 2022 -              Xavier Lédée                       (b. 1980)             UPS

Territorial Disputes: None identified.    

Party abbreviations: DVD = Divers Droite (Diverse Right, right-wing candidates not members of any large party); Ind = Indépendant (Independent); LR = Les Républicains (The Republicans, center-right, former UMP, est.30 May 2015); SBDA = Saint-Barth d'abord! (Saint Barth First!, liberal conservative, Francophile, St. Barth regionalist, Bruno Magras election list, affiliated with UMP/LR, est.2007); UPS = Unis pour Saint-Barthélemy (United for Saint Barthelemy, Xavier Lédée election list, est.2017);
- Former parties: MAPA-SB = Mouvement pour le Progrès et l'Avenir de St.-Barth (Movement for Action and Progress for the Future of Saint Barth, conservative, est.1973?); RI = Républicain Indépendant (Republican Independent); UMP = Union pour un Mouvement Populaire (Union for a Popular Movement [to 17 Nov 2002: Union for the Presidential Majority], conservative, merger of RPR, DL and the main part of UDF, 23 Apr 2002-30 May 2015, renamed LR); UNR = Union pour la Nouvelle République (Union for the New Republic, Gaullist, conservative, 1958-1968)