British Leeward Islands

Federal Colony of the Leeward Islands
1671–1816 1833–1958
Flag (1871–1956) Coat of arms (1871-1956)
Anthem: "God Save the Queen/King"
Status	Colony of the United Kingdom
Capital	St. John's
Common languages	English (official) Leeward Caribbean Creole English Dominican Creole French
Religion	Christianity (Anglican, Catholic, Methodist)
Government	Constitutional monarchy
Monarch
• 1671–1685	Charles II (first)
• 1952–1958	Elizabeth II (last)
Governor in Chief
• 1671-1683	Sir William Stapleton, 1st Baronet (first)
• 1956–1958	Alexander Thomas Williams (last)
History
• Established	1671
• Divided	1816
• Reformed	1833
• Federal colony	1871
• Dominica joined	1871
• Dominica left	1940
• Joined West Indies Federation	1958
• Federation dissolved	31 May 1962
Currency	Pound sterling (official) Spanish dollar Mexican peso
Preceded by Succeeded by Anguilla Antigua Barbuda Dominica Montserrat Nevis Saint Christopher Virgin Islands West Indies Federation British Virgin Islands

The British Leeward Islands was a British colony from 1671 to 1958, consisting of the English (later British) overseas possessions in the Leeward Islands. It ceased to exist from 1816 to 1833, during which time it was split into two separate colonies (Antigua–Barbuda–Montserrat and Saint Christopher–Nevis–Anguilla–Virgin Islands). It was dissolved in 1958 after the separation of the British Virgin Islands, and the remaining islands became parts of the West Indies Federation.

The Leeward Islands was established as an English colony in 1671. In 1816, the islands were divided in two regions: Antigua, Barbuda, and Montserrat in one colony, and Saint Christopher, Nevis, Anguilla, and the Virgin Islands in the other.

The Leeward Islands were united again as a semi-federal entity in 1833, coming together until 1872 under the administration of the Governor of Antigua. The islands then became known as the Federal Colony of the Leeward Islands from 1872 to 1956. From 1833 to 1940, Dominica was part of the colony; in 1940, it was transferred to the British Windward Islands group.^[1]

On 3 January 1958 all islands except the Virgin Islands were absorbed into the West Indies Federation. The British Leeward Islands finally ceased to exist with the abolition of the office of its governor, and the elevation of the British Virgin Islands to the status of a separate crown colony, in 1960.^[2][3]

A representative Leeward Islands cricket team continues to participate in West Indian domestic cricket.

The armed forces of the colony included structures from Saint Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Antigua, Dominica, and British Virgin Islands.^[4]

• Saint Kitts and Nevis Defence Force
• Royal Montserrat Defence Force
• Royal Antigua Defense Force
• Dominica Defense Force

The islands of the Leeward Islands all used postage stamps inscribed "LEEWARD ISLANDS" between 1890 and 1 July 1956, often concurrently with stamps inscribed with the colony's name. The islands also issued revenue stamps between 1882 and the 1930s.

• List of governors of the Leeward Islands
• Attorney General of the Leeward Islands
• Chief Justice of the Leeward Islands
• British Windward Islands
• History of the British West Indies

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Leeward Islands". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 16 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 371.

• Leeward Islands – Flag