He died there in 1754.
Among its early permanent inhabitants were political leaders imprisoned from other Dutch colonies, including Indonesia, and the leader of the mutiny on the slave ship Meermin. After the British Royal Navy captured several Dutch East Indiamen at the battle of Saldanha Bay in 1781, a boat rowed out to meet the British warships.
In 1654, the settlers released rabbits on the island to provide a ready source of meat for passing ships. The original colony of African penguins on the island was completely exterminated by 1800.
The Dutch had long held them on "Isle Robin", but then had moved them to Saldanha Bay. In 1806 the Scottish whaler John Murray opened a whaling station at a sheltered bay on the north-eastern shore of the island, which became known as Murray's Bay.
It was adjacent to the site of the present-day harbour named Murray's Bay Harbour, which was constructed in 1939–40. After a failed uprising at Grahamstown in 1819, the fifth of the Xhosa Wars, the British colonial government sentenced African leader Makanda Nxele to life imprisonment on the island.
Starting in 1845, lepers from the Hemel-en-Aarde (heaven and earth) leper colony near Caledon were moved to Robben Island when Hemel-en-Aarde was found unsuitable as a leper colony.
These were to warn VOC ships that they were approaching the island. In 1865 Robben Island lighthouse was completed on Minto Hill.
In April 1891 the cornerstones for 11 new buildings to house lepers were laid.
After passage of the Leprosy Repression Act in May 1892, admission was no longer voluntary, and the movement of the lepers was restricted.
Prior to 1892 an average of about 25 lepers a year were admitted to Robben Island, but in 1892 that number rose to 338, and in 1893 a further 250 were admitted. During the Second World War, the island was fortified.
Prior to 1892 an average of about 25 lepers a year were admitted to Robben Island, but in 1892 that number rose to 338, and in 1893 a further 250 were admitted. During the Second World War, the island was fortified.
In 1901 the mail steamer SS Tantallon Castle struck rocks off Robben Island in dense fog shortly after leaving Cape Town.
In 1938 the lamp was converted to electricity.
It was adjacent to the site of the present-day harbour named Murray's Bay Harbour, which was constructed in 1939–40. After a failed uprising at Grahamstown in 1819, the fifth of the Xhosa Wars, the British colonial government sentenced African leader Makanda Nxele to life imprisonment on the island.
Easy to see in their natural habitat, the penguins have been a popular tourist attraction. Around 1958, Lieutenant Peter Klerck, a naval officer serving on the island, introduced various animals.
A 'Noah's Ark' berthed in the harbour sometime in 1958.
BL 9.2-inch guns and 6-inch guns were installed as part of the defences for Cape Town. From 1961, Robben Island was used by the South African government as a prison for political prisoners and convicted criminals.
In 1969 the Moturu Kramat, now a sacred site for Muslim pilgrimage on Robben Island, was built to commemorate Sayed Abdurahman Moturu, the Prince of Madura.
Muslim political prisoners would pay homage at the shrine before leaving the island. In 1982, former inmate Indres Naidoo's book "Island in Chains" became the first published account of prison life on the island. The maximum security prison for political prisoners closed in 1991.
But since 1983 a new colony has been established there, and the modern island is again an important breeding area for the species.
In addition, two other former inmates of Robben Island have been elected as President of South Africa since the late 1990s: Kgalema Motlanthe and Jacob Zuma. Robben Island is a South African National Heritage Site as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. ==History== Located at the entrance to Table Bay, 11 km from Cape Town, this island, was discovered by Bartolomeu Dias in 1488 and, for many years, it was used by Portuguese navigators, later by English and Dutch as a refueling station.
A total of 31 vessels are known to have been wrecked around the island. In 1990, a marine archaeology team from the University of Cape Town began Operation "Sea Eagle".
Muslim political prisoners would pay homage at the shrine before leaving the island. In 1982, former inmate Indres Naidoo's book "Island in Chains" became the first published account of prison life on the island. The maximum security prison for political prisoners closed in 1991.
He was later awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace and was elected in 1994 as President of South Africa, serving one term.
None of the original 12 shipped over remain, and in 1995, four more were introduced—they seem to have more easily accepted their home as they are still residents.
It was fortified and used as a prison from the late 17th century to 1996, after the end of apartheid.
Many animals are still there including three species of tortoise—the most recently discovered in 1998—two Parrot Beaked specimens that have remained undetected until now.
In 1999 the island was declared a World Heritage Site for its importance to South Africa's political history and development of a democratic society.
The colony grew to a size of ~16,000 individuals in 2004, before starting to decline in size again.
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Page generated on 2021-08-05