Timeline: Jamaica

A chronology of key events:

1494 - Christopher Columbus sights Jamaica.

1509 - Jamaica occupied by the Spaniards under a licence from Columbus's son; much of the indigenous Arawak community dies off from exposure to European diseases; African slaves brought in to work on the sugar plantations.

NATIONAL HERO Bob Marley: The international face of Jamaican music BBCi Artist Profile: Bob Marley BBCi Music: Reggae homepage BBC Four Audio Interviews

1655 - Jamaica is captured by the British.

1670 - Jamaica formally ceded to the British in accordance with the Treaty of Madrid.

1692 - Port Royal, once the busiest trading centre of the British West Indies and infamous for general debauchery, is devastated by an earthquake.

1838 - Slavery abolished.

1865 - The British ruthlessly put down the Morant Bay rebellion, staged by freed slaves in response to acute hardship, and force the local legislature to surrender its powers; Jamaica becomes a crown colony.

1870 - Banana plantations set up as the sugar cane industry declines in the face of competition from European beet sugar.

1884 - New constitution marks the initial revival of local autonomy.

The capital Kingston has endured earthquakes and fires Founded in 1692 Became political capital in 1872 Population: 800,000

1938 - Serious riots caused by unemployment and resentment against British racial policies; People's National Party (PNP) founded by Norman Manley.

1944 - Universal adult suffrage introduced; new constitution providing for a popularly-elected House of Representatives promulgated.

1958 - Jamaica becomes a member of the British-sponsored Federation of the West Indies.

1961 - Jamaica withdraws from the Federation of the West Indies.

Independence

1962 - Jamaica becomes independent within the British Commonwealth with Alexander Bustamante of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) as prime minister.

1972 - Michael Manley becomes prime minister following an impressive victory by the PNP in the general elections and pursues a policy of economic self-reliance.

TROPICAL SOCIALIST Michael Manley was prominent in Jamaican politics for 40 years Son of national hero Norman Manley, the premier at independence Premier 1972 - 1980, declared "Socialism is Love" Returned to power in 1989, softening his rhetoric

1976 - The PNP wins another term following elections marked by violence and proceeds to nationalise businesses and build closer ties with Cuba.

1980 - Edward Seaga becomes prime minister after his JLP wins general elections. He proceeds to privatise state enterprises and to distance Jamaica from Cuba. US grants Seaga government substantial aid.

1988 - Jamaica badly hit by Hurricane Gilbert.

1989 - PNP ousts JLP in elections, returning Michael Manley as prime minister. Manley, however, chooses to continue Seaga's policy course.

Patterson takes over

1992 - Manley retires on health grounds and is succeeded by Percival J Patterson.

1993 - PNP returned to office with an increased majority.

1998 - PNP wins a third term; increase in violent crime reported as the economy deteriorates.

Gang rivalry, drugs trade contribute to high murder rate 1,145 murders in 2004 More than 1,600 murders in 2005 2004: Spanish Town new 'murder capital'

1999 April - Violent protests take place against a 30% increase in fuel prices.

1999 July - Government orders the army to patrol the streets of Kingston following a massive increase in crime.

2001 July - Troops and armoured vehicles move in to restore order in the capital, Kingston, after three days of unrest leave at least 27 people dead.

2002 March - Britain's Privy Council - final court of appeal for Jamaica and other former colonies - decides to halt executions in some Caribbean countries, where capital punishment is supported as a deterrent to violent crime. Prime Minister PJ Patterson criticises the move.

Patterson's third term

2002 October - Prime Minister PJ Patterson's People's National Party wins general elections, ushering in fourth successive term in office for party and third term for incumbent premier.

2003 January - UK introduces visa requirement for Jamaicans entering UK; London says move is intended to tackle illegal immigration.

PJ Patterson led Jamaica for 14 years 2002: Profile - Jamaica's PJ as PM

2004 March - Ousted former Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide takes up temporary asylum, prompting an angry response from the new Haitian government.

2004 September - Hurricane Ivan - described as the biggest in living memory - pounds the island, destroying thousands of homes.

2005 September - Prime Minister PJ Patterson says he will step down by April 2006.

Opposition leads a day of protest over price increases for utilities and public transport.

2006 February - Local government minister Portia Simpson Miller is elected as head of the ruling People's National Party. She succeeds PJ Patterson to become Jamaica's first female PM in March.

2006 October - Government survives a confidence vote in parliament over the ruling party's acceptance of a campaign donation from a Netherlands-based oil company.

2007 September - Jamaica Labour Party wins general elections.

2008 November - Parliament votes to keep the death penalty, as Jamaica struggles to contain one of the world's highest murder rates.

2009January - Governor-General Kenneth Hall resigns, citing health reasons. Patrick Allen, president of the Seventh Day Adventist union, will take up the job in February.