Page "History of the British Virgin Islands" Paragraph 42

* St. Thomas.

The British initially claimed St. Thomas ( and St. John as well ), but in 1717, the Danish disputed their claim to those islands.

In contrast to the long dispute over ownership of Tortola, the dispute over St. Thomas was settled readily with a year.

The Danish claim was strong ; they had the benefit of the Treaty of Alliance and Commerce of 1670 between Britain and Denmark, which led to the founding of the Danish West India Company in 1671 which its charter permitted it to take possession of and occupy the two islands.

On 25 May 1672, the Danes took possession of St. Thomas, and discovered it to have been abandoned by the British settlers some weeks earlier.

The British could scarcely object to the Danes retaining the island.