Martinique Timeline of Events

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Martinique

Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...

Timeline of Events

1848

5.22.1848

Slavery is abolished in Martinique.

1891

8.18.1891

Major hurricane strikes Martinique, leaving 700 dead.

1902

5.8.1902

In Martinique, Mount Pelée erupts, destroying the town of Saint-Pierre and killing over 30,000 people. Only a handful of residents survive the blast.

1946

3.19.1946

French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion become overseas ''départements'' of France.

2007

11.29.2007

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake occurs off the northern coast of Martinique. This affected the Eastern Caribbean as far north as Puerto Rico and as far south as Trinidad.