1493   Arrival of Columbus on island known to Amerindians as ‘ Laimuiga’ fertile land which Columbus is Said to have renamed ‘San Cristobal’ (St Christopher) after himself known to Amerindians as ‘Oualie’ renamed by Columbus ‘las Nieves” referring to the cloud- covered Nevis peak said to Remind him of snow capped mountains in Spain 1623   First British settlement in the West Indies 1690   Severe earth quake and tidal wave destroyed what is believed to be the first capital of Nevis (James Town) 1783   Ceded to Britain following shared use with France 1816   Together with Anguilla and British Virgin Island administered as single British Colony 1871   Incorporated within Leeward Islands Federation 1958   Member of West Indies Federation (St Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla) 1967   Associated Statehood with Britain (full internal self-government) within WISA. Robert L. Bradshaw, first Premier 1980   Formal dissolution of association with Anguilla 1983   Achieved independence as a federation. Dr. Kennedy A. Simmonds, first Prime Minister