Timeline of Freetown

Prior to 19th century

1787

9 May: Settlers arrive from Portsmouth, England.

Granville Town, Province of Freedom established by the London-based Committee for the Relief of the Black Poor.

1789 - Granville Town burned down.

1792 - Freetown established by black American ex-slaves (called the Nova Scotian Settlers) under the auspices of the Sierra Leone Company.

1794 - September: Settler Town attacked by French.

19th century

1800

September: Rebellion of Nova Scotian Settlers.

Jamaican Maroon settlers arrive.

1805 - Martello Tower built.

1808

Freetown settlement becomes a British crown colony.

"Slavers court" established.

1811 - Population: 1,900.

1812 - Wilberforce suburb founded for Liberated Africans."

1816 - Krootown established.

1822

Rawdon Street Methodist Church built.

Population: 4,785.

1827 - Fourah Bay College established.

1828 - St. George's Cathedral, Freetown built.

1830s - Foulah Town Mosque built.

1845

Church Mission Society Grammar School founded.

John Ezzidio becomes mayor.

1846 - Cline Town established.

1847 - Female Institution (school) founded.

1853 - Inhabitants become "British subjects."

1865 - Samuel Lewis becomes mayor.

1866 - St. Edward's Primary School founed.

1867 - Government Wharf built.

1872 - Pope Hennessy Day festival begins.

1873 - Independent newspaper begins publication.

1874 - Wesleyan High School for Boys opens.

1875 - West African Reporter newspaper begins publication.

1884

Sierra Leone Weekly News begins publication.

Leopold Educational Institute opens.

Fire.

1891 - Population: 30,033.

1893 - Town attains city status; Freetown City Council established.

1895 - Governor's residence built.

1898 - Bank of British West Africa branch and ice factory established.

1899 - Songo Town-Freetown railway begins operating.

20th century

1904

John Henry Malamah Thomas becomes mayor.

Albert Academy founded.

1905

Madrasa Islamia active.

Lisk-Carew photo studio in business.

1918 - Population: 34,000 (approximate).

1919 - July: Strike and anti-Syrian riot.

1922 - St. Edward's Secondary School founded.

1923 - Girls' Industrial and Technical Training School established.

1925 - Prince of Wales School founded.

1926

January: Railway strike.

December: City Council dissolved; Municipal Board established.

1928 - East End Lions Football Club formed.

1930 - Women granted right to vote.

1932

Muslim Congress created.

Sierra Leone Daily Mail newspaper begins publication.

1938

West African Youth League and League of Coloured Peoples branch headquartered in Freetown.

Freetown Secondary School for Girls established.

1948

Eustace Henry Taylor Cummings becomes mayor.

Population: 64,576.

1953 - Deep Water Quay construction begins.

1961 - City becomes capital of Commonwealth realm of Sierra Leone.

1962 - Siaka Stevens becomes mayor.

1964 - Bank of Sierra Leone headquartered in city.

1965 - Sierra Leone Port Authority established.

1966 - Constance Cummings-John becomes mayor.

1971 - City becomes capital of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

1977 - Ode-lay Society (social club) formed.

1980 - Siaka Stevens Stadium opens.

1983 - For Di People newspaper begins publication.

1990s

1990 - Population: 529,000 (urban agglomeration).

1995 - Population: 603,000 (urban agglomeration).

1996 - Freetown/New Haven Sister Cities established.

1997

25 March: "Rebels move into Freetown;" prisoners freed from the Pademba Road prison.

30 May: Foreigners evacuated.

2 June: AFRC conflict.

1998

February: "Ecomog storms Freetown and drives rebels out."

Kabbah returns to Freetown.

1999

January: City besieged by Armed Forces Revolutionary Council/Revolutionary United Front.

November: United Nations troops arrive.

21st century

2000

2 May: City Hotel burns down.

8 May: Peace demonstration.

Center for Media, Technology and Education established.

Population: 688,000 (urban agglomeration).

2002

Sierra Leone Civil War ends.

Special Court for Sierra Leone and Kallon Football Club established.

2003 - 14 April: Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Sierra Leone) convenes.

2004

Winstanley Bankole Johnson becomes mayor.

Population: 772,873.

2005 - Njala University College established.

2010 - Population: 945,423.

2012

Cholera epidemic.

Sam Franklyn Gibson becomes mayor.