| The Cayman Islands are overseas territory of the | | | | territory. At that time Jamaica also became an |
| United Kingdom in the eastern Caribbean Sea. The | | | | independent commonwealth country. |
| islands are comprised of Grand Cayman, Cayman | | | | Just recently the island of Grand Cayman, was |
| Brac, and Little Cayman. | | | | damaged by a severe Category Five Hurricane, Ivan. |
| First visited and discovered by Christopher Columbus | | | | Much was destroyed in September 2004 when Ivan |
| May 10, 1503 during his fourth and final voyage to | | | | ripped through the area, Ivan damaged many |
| the New World. After Colombus the first recorded | | | | buildings many buildings and damaging nearly all. Ivan |
| English speaking visitor to the islands was Sir Francis | | | | has been the worst hurricane to hit the islands in |
| Drake. This was in 1586. It is Francis Drake who | | | | over 85 years. Most of the infrastructure has now |
| named the islands the Cayman Islands. The islands, as | | | | been restored in a rapid recovery. |
| well as Jamaica, were granted to England in about | | | | Feel free to reprint this article as long as you keep |
| 1670 by the Treaty of Madrid. Until 1962, with | | | | the following caption and author biography in tact |
| Jamaica they were governed as a single colony, | | | | with all hyperlinks. |
| when they became a separate British overseas | | | | |