Trinidad

An island belonging to Great Britain, and the most southerly of the West India Islands. It is separated from the mainland (Venezuela) by the Gulf of Paria. Trinidad was discovered by Columbus in 1498; and first colonized by the Spaniards, in 1588. In 1676, the French po e ed it for a short time, but it was speedily restored to Spain; and in 1797, it was captured by the British, who have retained it ever since.