A famous person, Napoleon Bonaparte, was sent to this island by the British. This happened after he returned from Elba island and lost the Battle of Waterloo. Napoleon died on Saint Helena in 1821.

The island is being considered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means it could be recognized for its special global importance.

Island History: How Saint Helena Was Found
Geography and Wildlife: Exploring the Island
- Climate: What's the Weather Like?
Island Districts: How Saint Helena is Divided
Economy: How People Make a Living
- Money Matters: Banking and Currency
Related pages
Images for kids
See also

Island History: How Saint Helena Was Found

Early Discoveries (1502–1658)

The island was found in 1502 by a Portuguese admiral named João da Nova. He named it "Santa Helena" after Helena of Constantinople. For a long time, people thought it was discovered on May 21. However, new research suggests May 3 is more likely.

Another idea is that the island De Nova found was actually Tristan da Cunha, which is 2,430 kilometers (1,510 miles) south. This theory suggests Saint Helena was discovered by ships led by Estêvão da Gama on July 30, 1503.

When the Portuguese arrived, no one lived on the island. It had many trees and fresh water. They brought livestock, fruit trees, and vegetables. They also built a small chapel and a few houses.

The Portuguese did not create a lasting settlement. But the island became an important stop for ships traveling from Asia to Europe. Sailors could get food and water there. Sick sailors were often left on the island to get better. After 1588, Dutch and English ships also started visiting.

The Dutch Republic officially claimed Saint Helena in 1633. But there is no proof they ever lived there or built defenses. By 1651, the Dutch had mostly left the island. They preferred their colony at the Cape of Good Hope.

East India Company Takes Over (1658–1815)

A View of the Town and Island of St Helena in the Atlantic Ocean belonging to the English East India Company, engraving, c. 1790.

In 1657, the English East India Company received permission from Oliver Cromwell to govern Saint Helena. The next year, the Company decided to start a colony there with farmers.

The first governor, Captain John Dutton, arrived in 1659. This made Saint Helena one of Britain's oldest colonies outside North America and the Caribbean. A fort was built, along with several houses.

After the English monarchy was restored in 1660, the East India Company got a Royal permit to continue their colony. The fort was named James Fort and the town Jamestown. These names honored the Duke of York, who later became King James II of England.

Bringing slaves to the island became illegal in 1792. Instead, Chinese workers were brought in to work on the farms. Many of them were allowed to stay. Their families became part of the island's population.

Napoleon's Exile and British Rule (1815–1821)

Longwood House, site of Napoleon's captivity

In 1815, the British government decided to use Saint Helena as a prison for Napoleon Bonaparte. To stop him from escaping to nearby islands, they officially took control of Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. Napoleon died on Saint Helena in 1821.

In 1858, the French emperor Napoleon III bought Longwood House and the land around it for the French government. This was the last home of Napoleon I. It is still owned by France today.

Becoming a Crown Colony (1834–1981)

On April 22, 1834, Saint Helena officially became a Crown colony of the British. This meant it was directly controlled by the British government.

A local business making fibre from New Zealand flax started again in 1907. It made a lot of money during the First World War. However, this industry later struggled because of high shipping costs and competition from new man-made fibers. The last flax factory closed in 1965.

In 1922, Ascension Island became a dependency of Saint Helena. Then, Tristan da Cunha Island joined on January 12, 1938.

Saint Helena Today (1981 to Present)

Saint Helena seen from space (photo is oriented with south-east towards the top)

In 1981, the British government changed the status of Saint Helena and other Crown colonies. They were renamed "British Dependent Territories."

In 2009, Saint Helena and its two territories (Ascension and Tristan da Cunha) were given equal status. A new constitution was created. The British Overseas Territory was then renamed Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha.

Geography and Wildlife: Exploring the Island

Topographic map of Saint Helena.

The island of Saint Helena covers a total area of 122 square kilometers (47 square miles). The middle of the island has forests, some of which were planted by people.

Much of the island is important for protecting birds. This is especially true for the Saint Helena Plover, also known as the Wirebird. This bird lives only on Saint Helena. The island is also important for seabirds that nest on the small islets near the coast.

The highest point on the island is Diana's Peak. It is 818 meters (2,684 feet) tall. In 1996, it became the island's first national park. In 2000, a project began to replant a lost forest called the Great Wood. This new forest is called the Millennium Forest. It is now managed by the Saint Helena National Trust, which started in 2002.

There are several rocks and small islands off the coast. These include Castle Rock, Speery Island, and Bird Island. All of them are within one kilometer (0.6 miles) of the shore.

The national bird of Saint Helena is the Saint Helena Plover, or Wirebird. You can see it on the coat of arms of Saint Helena and on the flag.

Climate: What's the Weather Like?

Saint Helena has a tropical climate. This means it is warm all year round. The weather is mild because of the trade winds that blow almost all the time.

Island Districts: How Saint Helena is Divided

Saint Helena is divided into eight districts. People who work and live in the Jamestown Harbour and on the Royal Mail Ship St. Helena (RMS) are counted in the census where they work.

District	Area km²	Men	Women	Total
Jamestown	3.6	354	360	714
Half Tree Hollow	1.6	449	452	901
Saint Paul's	11.4	392	403	795
Blue Hill	36.5	82	71	153
Sandy Bay	15.3	107	98	205
Levelwood	14.0	167	149	316
Longwood	33.4	366	349	715
Alarm Forest	5.9	135	141	276
Jamestown Harbour	3.6	6	3	9
Royal Mail Ship St. Helena	–	108	63	171
Total	121.7	2,166	2,089	4,255

Districts of Saint Helena.

Economy: How People Make a Living

Until 1966, the island's economy relied on just one crop. This was New Zealand flax, used to make rope and string. Today, Saint Helena's economy is not very strong. It mostly depends on help from the British government.

Tourism on the island is very important. Many visitors come because of Napoleon's time there.

Saint Helena also makes coffee. It is said to be the most expensive coffee in the world. The island also produces and sells "Tungi Spirit." This drink is made from the fruit of the prickly pear cactus, called Opuntia ficus-indica. "Tungi" is the local name for this plant.

Ascension Island, Tristan da Cunha, and Saint Helena all print their own postage stamps. Selling these stamps brings in a good amount of money.

Money Matters: Banking and Currency

Saint Helena has its own money, called the Saint Helena pound. It has the same value as the pound sterling (British pound). The government of Saint Helena makes its own coins and banknotes.

The Bank of Saint Helena was started in 2004. It has branches in Jamestown on Saint Helena and in Georgetown on Ascension Island.

List of World Heritage Sites in the United Kingdom

Images for kids

Portuguese Viceroy Francisco de Almeida passed the island in 1505 but could not land. Other Portuguese explorers who landed at an earlier date include João da Nova in 1502 and Estêvão da Gama in 1503.
Napoléon à Sainte-Hélène by François-Joseph Sandmann
Longwood House in September 2014
Positions (north to south) of Ascension Island, Saint Helena, and Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic Ocean
Jamestown, from above
Jamestown, the capital of Saint Helena
1673–1973 tercentenary 25-pence copper-nickel coin of St. Helena
RMS St Helena in James Bay
Looking back at the island from the RMS St Helena
Saint Helena Airport in 2016
The football team before a game in Anglesey