From the sixteenth century, the Spanish had been making attempts to control the region of the Yucatan coast which includes modern-day Belize. They never settled due to the lack of natural resources and the hostile Indian tribes.

The first Europeans who put down roots were British sailors; either shipwrecked or in some cases having ‘Pirate’ on their CV. 

Pirates would use the numerous cays (a low bank or reef of coral, rock, or sand) in the area as a places to lay in wait to attack passing Spanish ships. These pirates were known as ‘filibusters’, a word that is used in modern English for those who delay a political process.

Known as Baymen, these Europeans settled in the Belize City area in the 1650s after realising they could make a living by cutting and exporting logwood back to Europe.

The importance of the timber industry to the country is shown on the flag of Belize, whose seal features a woodcutter’s starter pack – three axes, a saw and a mahogany tree.

In the mid-eighteenth century, the Spanish made several attempts to take control of the region. The conflict continued despite several treaties being signed by the Spanish and the British which were supposed to safeguard the rights of the Baymen.

On September 10th 1798, the Spanish made an assault on the settlement with 32 ships and over 2,000 troops. They engaged with the Baymen at St. George’s Caye and despite the overwhelming Spanish numbers, the Baymen won a decisive victory, that ended Spanish interest in the region.

In 1862, Britain formally declared the settlement a British Crown Colony, subordinate to Jamaica, and named it British Honduras.