Martinique History

France Caribbean  Martinique

France 1635, Great Britain 1762, France 1763.

Except for three short periods of British occupation, Martinique has been a French possession since 1635. Most of the Carib Indians were killed, and the rest were gradually absorbed into the population. Martinique became semi-autonomous under a high commissioner until 1943, when the Free French took over. In 1946 its status was changed to an Overseas Department.