St Helena

Saint Helena lies in the South Atlantic over 1,200 miles from the nearest landmass. Previously uninhabited, it was discovered and occupied by the Portuguese in 1502. From 1659 it has been a British possession, apart from a short Dutch interlude in 1673.

The island is ringed by precipitous cliffs whilst the interior is an island of contrasts, including barren deserts, pastureland and cloud forest. In 1502 Saint Helena was a pristine wilderness, with six endemic land birds and extensive forests of endemic plants. Although, within a century much of it had been denuded by settlers and wild goats, it was recognised by Darwin as having no biological parallel anywhere in the world. The long period of isolated evolution has led to over 400 endemic plants and invertebrates and the Wirebird, with many higher taxa (genera and above as well as species) which are also unique to the Island. The past three decades have been marked by concerted efforts to conserve the remaining endemics and restore tracts of native forest.

In 1815, the British government selected Saint Helena as the place of detention of captured French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. He was taken to the island in October 1815, staying at the Briars Pavilion on the grounds of the Balcombe family's home until his permanent home, Longwood House, was completed; he died there on 5 May 1821.