Montserrat Flag

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Brief History. Montserrat was first settled by English and Irish colonists coming from St. Kitts in 1632. First African slaves arrived three decades later. Through most of the 18th century, the British and French fought for possesion of the island, which resultef in a British winnig possession in 1783. The island's sugar plantation economy was converted to small farm landholdings in the mid 19th century. Much of this island was devastated and two-thirds of the population fled abroad because of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano that began on 18 July 1995. Montserrat has endured volcanic activity since, with the last eruption occurring in July 2003.