BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY : SLAVERY AND SLAVE TRADE IN SAINT LUCIA :

Saint Lucia was a French colony from 1643 when Du Rousselan became Governor of Saint Lucia until his death in 1654. In 1664 Thomas Warmer claimed Saint Lucia for  England, he brought  1000 men to defend it from the French, but after two years only 89 survived and they died from various disease. French returned and resumed control of the Island. For years the Island traded between the French and English with various treaties. The French assumed ownership of Saint Lucia by the Treaty of Paris in 1763 and introduced  the sugar cane industry in 1765. The colonist who came over were mostly indentured white servant serving a small percentage of wealthy merchant or nobles.

In 1803 Britain eventually triumphed and acquired Saint Lucia permanently in 1814. In 1834 the British abolished the institution of slavery and in 1838 the slaves gained full freedom. Most of the former slaves  working for there former master became apprentices to them and become paid workers.