New Caledonia History

New Caledonia

The islands were probably settled by migrants from Papua New Guinea and Polynesia. James Cook visited the islands in 1774 and a few other Europeans followed. Missionaries began arriving in 1840. France took over in 1853 and ruled through military governors. The French used it as a penal colony, transporting 40,000 convicts there from 1864-1897. New Caledonia remains part of France with the status of an overseas territory. It is divided in three provinces: the Loyalty Islands, the North Province, and the Southern Province.