Port Royal
Kingston Harbour, Jamaica
What happened
After England took Jamaica in 1655, the town of Port Royal grew at the end of a long sandy spit at the mouth of Kingston Harbour. It became a busy trading port and a base for privateers and buccaneers. On 7 June 1692 a powerful earthquake and tsunami sank much of the town into the harbour.
Why it matters
Because part of the town sank all at once, divers found buildings and objects left as they were in 1692. In 1981 Texas A&M University began a 10-year underwater investigation of the sunken part.
What came next
Kingston grew to take Port Royal's place and later became Jamaica's capital. In 2025 UNESCO listed the Archaeological Ensemble of 17th-Century Port Royal as a World Heritage Site.
Did you know?
A pocket watch recovered from the sea floor in the 1960s had stopped at 11:43 in the morning, the time of the earthquake.
Timeline
- 1655England captures Jamaica.
- 1657Governor Edward D'Oyley invites buccaneers to make Port Royal their base.
- 7 June 1692An earthquake and tsunami sink much of the town.
- 1981Texas A&M University begins a 10-year underwater investigation.
- 2025UNESCO lists 17th-century Port Royal as a World Heritage Site.