Bermuda Celebrates 400th Anniversary in 2009

Bermuda — the world's oldest self-governing British colony — huffs and puffs and blows out 400 birthday candles in 2009, with a yearlong bash to honour all that these giant little islands have accomplished in four centuries.

"We recognise that the vast array of opportunities now available to us is not the result of blind good fortune or random chance. It is the result of 400 years of thrift, hard work and perseverance against unimaginable odds," proclaims Conchita Ming, chair of the Bermuda 2009 Steering Committee overseeing events. "The ingenuity and resilience that have become the hallmark of the Bermudian people throughout our history, and the values that they represent, are the true story of Bermuda."

The Beginning
That story began at Plymouth, England, in June 1609. The Virginia Co. launched a third supply mission to rescue its Jamestown colony, which had suffered disaster since its founding in May 1607. The company was determined to make Jamestown successful, according to historian Dr. George Cook, so the Sea Venture led a fleet commanded by Admiral Sir George Somers. Onboard were 140 men, 10 women, some children and a dog, including vagabonds, "unruly youths" and skilled artisans.

Writer William Strachey, who hoped to make his reputation as the chronicler of Virginia, recorded the harrowing ocean crossing, which took an unusually direct, northerly route. A "dreadful and hideous" storm dispersed the fleet. On her maiden ocean voyage, the Sea Venture leaked badly, and the liquor was broken out before her souls were commended to the deep.

By the "work of a merciful God," however, the ship ran aground on the reefs of Bermuda, a tiny speck in a vast ocean, without smashing to bits. The dreaded islands of lore turned out to be paradise, except for three mutinies and a murder (Robert Waters, later pardoned, smashed Edward Samuels with a shovel). There was also a marriage, two births (a girl who died and a boy who survived) and three other deaths.

New ships, the Deliverance and Patience, were constructed from local cedar and the remains of the Sea Venture. Their supplies saved the lives of the remaining Jamestown settlers. But not everyone wanted to leave Eden. When the new ships set sail in May 1610, Waters, the pardoned murderer, and Christopher Carter, an erstwhile mutineer, stayed behind. So Bermuda now claims continuous habitation since July 28, 1609.

Strachey's tale influenced William Shakespeare greatly in writing his play The Tempest, which debuted Nov. 1, 1611. Bermuda earned its new reputation as a land of equable climate without hostile natives. The Virginia Co. secured a charter to colonise the islands, but later sold its interest for £2,000.

Events to Celebrate 400 Years
In 2009, dozens of events will celebrate Bermuda's 400 years. Here are several:

During the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge, graceful classic ships sail from Spain to the Canary Islands, then race across the ocean to Bermuda. The tall ships arrive around June 1 and stay until June 15, with events June 6-10.

Children love the military parade that marks Her Majesty the Queen's Birthday, June 13 on Front Street in Hamilton. Dating back to King George III, the event is organised by the Bermuda Regiment and involves the Police Service, Reserve Police, Fire Service, Cadet Corps and Sea Cadets.

Sea Venture Wreck at Fort St. Catherine is a theatrical re-enactment running July 8-11. It brings to life the survival story of those "wrecked on the rock" when the Sea Venture ran aground in 1609.

Using Shakespeare's The Tempest as a backdrop, a modern theatrical production running July 23-25 employs mime, dance and original songs to trace Bermuda's evolution through the African diaspora.

Opera Under the Stars runs Sept. 25-26, with great performances amidst the Maritime Museum in Royal Naval Dockyard.

The annual Gombey Festival, on Oct. 4, celebrates folk-art traditions, as troupes dance and recount historical tales. Also, catch the beat of the Bermuda Music Festival, Oct. 7-10, with a beach concert under the stars and three days of performances at the National Sports Centre.

Military buffs flock to the Bermuda Tattoo at Dockyard, a world-class spectacle of music, dance and military precision, Oct. 22-24.

On Dec. 12, enjoy the Bermuda Christmas Boat Parade. Crafts decorated in festive lights weave a dreamy seascape in Hamilton Harbour.

For the complete schedule of anniversary events, visit www.bermuda2009.bm.

Bermuda History Timeline

1609		Sea Venture Wrecks To re-supply the needy colonists of Jamestown, the Sea Venture set sail from Plymouth, England, for the Virginia Co. The ship leaked badly and went astray in a giant storm, then wrecked near the present-day town of St. George, accidentally founding modern Bermuda.
1611		The Tempest William Shakespeare's now-classic play, The Tempest, debuted in November. It was based in part on the harrowing voyage of the Sea Venture, its wreck on the reefs and the founding of Bermuda.
1612		Settlers on the Plough The first purposeful English settlers arrived in Bermuda aboard the Plough. Richard Moore was selected as the islands' first governor.
1620		New Parliament Bermudians inaugurated their first legislative assembly, now the world's third-oldest parliament, behind those of Iceland and Great Britain. Bermuda would become a crown colony 64 years later.
1648		Bermudians Settle Eleuthera The name of the Bahamian island of Eleuthera derived from Bermudian settlers, who called themselves Eleutherian Adventurers after the Greek eleutheria, meaning "freedom." Bermudians also settled the Turks and Caicos, resulting in British dominance of the region.
1700		New Communities English settlers in Bermuda had branched out from St. George's and established small communities around Flatts, Crow Lane, Riddell's Bay and Mangrove Bay.
1775		Smuggling a Revolution Smugglers broke into a military supply building near St. George's and stole more than 100 barrels of gunpowder for the revolutionaries of the American colonies.
1783		American Revolution Ends As the American Revolution ended in 1783, Great Britain lost all its North American harbours between Canada and the West Indies, vesting new military importance in Bermuda, where the British Army and the Royal Navy remained until 1995.
1812		Privateers and the War Having developed speedy sloops, Bermudian privateers operated with British approval to plunder foreign vessels. During the War of 1812, they seized almost 300 ships.
1815		Hamilton as the Capital Bermuda moved its capital from St. George's to Hamilton in an effort to catch tax-evading privateers who had hidden their treasures in coves, caves and basements around Hamilton Harbour.
1846		First Lighthouse Before the islands' first lighthouse was built, countless vessels ran aground on the reefs — today a prime destination for wreck divers — and were stripped while sinking, sometimes even before rescue efforts were mounted.
1860s		North vs. South Fast Bermudian sloops made big money in the U.S. Civil War by evading the Union blockade of the Confederate states to supply matériel and pick up gold and cotton, which they sold in London at a fabulous profit.
1940s		World War II A hotbed of espionage during World War II, Bermuda played a critical role for the Allies. Women worked in the basement of the Hamilton Princess Hotel to intercept the transmissions and crack the codes of German vessels plying the Atlantic Ocean. Meanwhile, other agents were rifling through mail bags as transatlantic planes refuelled.
1950s		Bermuda Business Booms After World War II, tourists discovered Bermuda, and the business sector began to grow steadily. Low taxes and favourable policies lured British, American and Canadian firms to headquarter in Bermuda. Today the insurance industry dominates.
2009		400th Anniversary Bermuda completes 400 years of continuous habitation as a self-governing British territory. Anniversary celebrations include a tall-ships challenge, royal birthday, re-enactment of the Sea Venture landing, theatrical production based on The Tempest, opera sung under the stars, Gombey festival, military tattoo, boat parade and other such festivities.

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