National

Today in History: March 3

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history, the Battle of Nassau took place in 1776.

Published

2 years ago

March 3, 2023

Kendeno Knowles

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history, the Battle of Nassau took place in 1776.

The two-day fight occurred during the American War of Independence and was the first naval assault of what would later become the United States Marines and the United States Navy.

The raiding party was led by Commodore Esek Hopkins and the city of Nassau militia was led by Governor Montfort Browne.

The objective was to capture gunpowder and arms that had been sent from the colony of Virginia to Nassau by Governor Lord Dunmore.

Then in 1958, the Royal Victoria Hotel located on Shirley Street was bombed with dynamite. Reports said terrorists threw several sticks of dynamite from a moving car at about midnight, blowing a huge hole in the dining room. No one was injured.

Police blame the attacks on racial and political agitators and said the terrorists aimed the bombs at three gas tanks in the hotel kitchen.

A reward of £8,000 sterling was offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the terrorists.

On this day in 1982, The Bahamas joined the Organization of American States as its 31st member.