History Georgetown, Guyana

wesleyan mission premises, george-town, demerara (1850)

the city of georgetown began small town in 18th century. originally, capital of demerara-essequibo colony located on borselen island in demerara river under administration of dutch. when colony captured british in 1781, lieutenant-colonel robert kingston chose mouth of demerara river establishment of town situated between plantations werk-en-rust , vlissengen.

it french made capital city when colonized in 1782. french called capital longchamps. when town restored dutch in 1784, renamed stabroek after nicolaas geelvinck, lord of stabroek, , president of dutch west india company. town expanded , covered estates of vlissengen, la bourgade , eve leary north, , werk-en-rust , la repentir south.

a view of kingston section of georgetown in 19th century.

it renamed georgetown on 29 april 1812 in honour of king george iii. on 5 may 1812 ordinance passed effect town formerly called stabroek, districts extending la penitence bridges in kingston , entering upon road military camps, shall called georgetown.

the ordinance provided various districts of georgetown shall known own names. supervision of georgetown done committee chosen governor , court of policy. estimates of expenditure prepared.

by 1806 owner of vlissingen asked exempted responsibility of maintaining road called camp street, court refused request. in 1810 maintenance of roads in area called georgetown cost 11,000 guilders per annum.

the governing body of georgetown once board of police. board of police chosen governor , court of policy. came existence result of disputes among various organisations controlled districts.

the board met monthly discussed not on records between 1825 , 1837. newspapers in colony prohibited law reporting public matters.

the post of commissary of police not regarded important. people elected board invariably declined attend meetings , never gave reasons refusal.

it was, therefore, decided individuals elected board bound serve 2 years, or suffer penalty of 1,000 guilders.

the board of police abolished when ordinance passed establish mayor , town council.

georgetown gained official city status on 24 august 1842 during reign of queen victoria.

the names of georgetown s wards , streets reflect influence of dutch, french , english administered town @ different periods of history.

cummingsburg named plantation la bourgade first owner, jacques salignac. laid out in streets , building lots second proprietor, thomas cuming, scotsman, whom gets current name. made presentation of militia parade ground , promenade gardens town gift. noteworthy carmichael street named after general hugh lyle carmichael served governor 1812 1813. died in march 1813 , buried in officers cemetery, eve leary.

water street called because ran along riverside , formed original river dam. high street formed leading road east bank east coast of demerara. part of high street ran through cummingsburg called main street. camp street received name because road led camp or garrison @ northern end of city. kingston got name king george of england. part of pln. eve leary named after wife or daughter of owner, cornelis leary. of streets of kingston have military names because garrison used located there, e.g. parade street, barrack street , fort street.

lacytown leasehold portion of plantation vlissengen. l.m. hill claims named after general sir de lacy evans, crimean war hero. however, james rodway claims named after george lacy bought part of plantation r.b. daly, representative of vlissengen. owner of vlissengen joseph bourda, member of court of policy. after son , heir disappeared @ sea, government claimed property under authority of vlissengen ordinance of 1876. new district of bourda laid out , lacytown improved board of vlissengen commissioners.

bourda street , ward of bourda named after joseph bourda, member of court of policy , former owner of pln. vlissengen. laid out commissioner of vlissengen in 1879. bourda cemetery holds remains of many old citizens of georgetown. persons owned family vaults or burial rights in enclosed ground used it.

in 1945 large fire (the great fire) broke out in city causing widespread damage.