Christopher Colombus came across the Virgin Islands on his second voyage to the "New World" in 1493. The islands went untouched for the next 100 years until they were discovered by pirates and privateers of the 17th century.  The BVI shores were home to Black Beard, Norman and Jost Van Dyke who have islands named after these legendary characters.

In the mid century the European settlers arrived and it was actually a hardy group of Dutchmen who are believed to have constructed a Fort, on Tortola. In 1672, the islands were made up of mostly British settlers and was therefore annexed by Britain and administered by the Government of the Leeward Islands.In 1834, the emancipation of slaves in the British West Indies, a hurricane and a series of bad ecomonic years put an end to the plantation system in the BVI.

Today, the BVI Government is comprised of a legislative Council of elected at-large and district representatives, and an Executive Council formed from the majority government.This territorial government is headed by a Chief Minister chosen by the members of the majority party.  A British Govenor is appointed by the Queen and acts as her representative.