Antig'ua, a West India island, the most important of the Leeward Islands, and the residence of the governor-in-chief of the British portion of the group. It is 28 miles long and 14 wide; in Boggies Hill attains a maximum altitude of 1328 feet; and has an area of 108 sq. m. Antigua was discovered in 1493 by Columbus, who is said to have named it after a church in Seville, called Santa Maria La Antigua. It was first settled by a few English in 1632, having till then remained, in fact, uninhabited on account of the great scarcity of fresh water. A number of colonists were sent here by Lord Willoughby, to whom Antigua was granted by Charles II. in 1663. For a time occupied by the French, it was declared a British possession by the Treaty of Breda (1667). The constitution consists of a governor, executive council, and a legislative council of twenty-four members, twelve of whom are elected. Antigua is the seat of an Anglican bishop. It has suffered severely from earthquakes—in 1689, 1843, and 1874; while of hurricanes also, the other heavy scourge, Antigua has had its full share—as in 1899. Numerous islets, rocks, and shoals border the shore, so that, generally speaking, access is difficult and dangerous. But St John, the chief town, stands at the head of a safe and capacious bay, which unfortunately, however, does not admit large vessels; and English Harbour is, on the whole, a more commodious port.
Antigua produces large quantities of sugar, molasses, rum, tamarinds, arrowroot, and cotton. The value of imports ranged during 1890-94 between £165,000 and £190,000; of exports between £156,000 and £245,000. The revenue of Antigua varies from £43,000 to £53,000; the expenditure from £47,000 to £50,000. Pop. (1861) 36,412; (1881) 34,964, of whom 1795 were whites; (1891, including Barbuda) 36,819. Pop. of St John, the capital, 9738.