British Guiana

British Guiana
1831–1966
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Damus petimusque vicissim (Latin) "We give and take in return"
Anthem: God Save the King (1831–1837; 1901–1952) God Save the Queen (1837–1901; 1952–1966)
Status	British colony
Capital	Georgetown
Common languages	Official English Vernacular language Guyanese Creole Native languages Akawaio Macushi Waiwai Arawakan family Patamona Warrau Carib Wapishana Arekuna Other languages Guyanese Hindustani Languages of South Asia African languages Portuguese Dutch Spanish French Chinese Tamil Skepi Creole Dutch Berbice Creole Dutch
Monarch
• 1831–1837	William IV
• 1837–1901	Victoria
• 1901–1910	Edward VII
• 1910–1936	George V
• 1936	Edward VIII
• 1936–1952	George VI
• 1952–1966	Elizabeth II
Legislature	Legislative council
Historical era	New Imperialism
• Single colony	21 July 1831
• New constitution	1928
• Independence	26 May 1966
Area
1924[1]	231,800 km2 (89,500 sq mi)
Population
• 1924[1]	307,391
Currency	Spanish dollar (to 1876) British Guiana dollar (to 1940s) British West Indies dollar (1949–65) East Caribbean dollar (1965–66)
ISO 3166 code	GY
Preceded by Succeeded by Demerara-Essequibo Berbice Gran Colombia Guyana
Today part of	Guyana

British Guiana was a British colony, part of the mainland British West Indies. It was located on the northern coast of South America. Since 1966 it has been known as the independent nation of Guyana.^{[2][page needed]}

The first known Europeans to encounter Guiana were Sir Walter Raleigh, an English explorer, and his crew. Raleigh published a book entitled The Discovery of Guiana, but this mainly relates to the Guayana region of Venezuela.

The Dutch were the first Europeans to settle there, starting in the early 17th century. They founded the colonies of Essequibo and Berbice, adding Demerara in the mid-18th century. In 1796, Great Britain took over these three colonies during hostilities with the French, who had occupied the Netherlands. Britain returned control of the territory to the Batavian Republic in 1802, but captured the colonies a year later during the Napoleonic Wars. The Netherlands officially ceded the colonies to the United Kingdom in 1815.

The British consolidated the territories into a single colony in 1831. The colony's capital was at Georgetown (known as Stabroek prior to 1812). Since the late 19th century, the economy has become more diversified but has still relied on resource exploitation. Guyana became independent of the United Kingdom on 26 May 1966.