Puerto Rico's History
1600 - 17971600
San Juan is enclosed by very formidable ramparts in the Caribbean.
1616
Arecibo and San Blás de Illescas (later called Coamo) were founded.
On September 15, a hurricane strikes the island.
1619
Bernardo de Balbuena became Bishop of Puerto Rico.
1625
On September 25, Holland attacks San Juan, under the leadership of Boudewijn Hendrick (Balduino Enrico), besieging El Morro and La Fortaleza, burning the city, but the Spanish repel the Dutch troops (battlemap).
1626
On September 15, a hurricane strikes the island.
A month later, on October, another hurricane strikes the island.
1634
King Philip IV of Spain began fortifying the San Cristóbal Fort (the largest Spanish fort in the New World), along with six fortresses linked by a line of sandstone walls surrounding the city.
1639
The San Juan Gate was built as the entry to San Juan.
1648
In San Germán, Porta Coeli Catholic Church was finished.
1673
A hurricane strikes the island.
1692
Ponce is founded.
1702
The British attack Arecibo, with no success.
1720
A hurricane strikes the island.
1722
On August 28, a hurricane strikes the island.
1740
On September 11-12, a hurricane strikes the island.
1742
On October 27-28, a hurricane strikes the island.
1765
Commissioned by Charles III of Spain to investigate contraband activity, Lieutenant General Alexander O'Reilly conducted a census. Puerto Rico's population had reached 44,883, of whom 5,037 were slaves, making an 11.2 percent, a very low ratio, considered the lowest for the Caribbean.
1770
Cockfighting began in the island.
1772
On August 28, a hurricane strikes the island, accompanied by an earthquake.
1780
On June 13, a hurricane strikes the island.
1781
On August 1st, a hurricane strikes the island.
1783
John Adams, then Secretary of State, and who would later become the second President of United States, proposed the political annexation of Cuba and Puerto Rico to the United States.
1785
On August 24-29, a hurricane strikes the island.
1786
The first History of Puerto Rico was published by Brother Iñigo Abbad y Lasierra. The book titled "Historia Geográfica, Civil y Política de Puerto Rico was published in Madrid, constitutes a complete history of Puerto Rico from the time of its discovery in 1493 until 1783.
1787
On May 2, an earthquake occurred with an approximate magnitude of 8 on the Richter scale.
Alexander Hamilton, then Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, proposed the annexation to the United States of Cuba, Puerto Rico, the western territories and the entire American Hemisphere.
1797
The French and Spanish declare war on England. The British attempt to conquer the island, an invasion by 7,000 British troops and 64 warships under the command of General Ralph Abercromby, attacked San Juan. Captain General Don Ramon de Castro and his army resisted the attack (battle map).
