The Spanish settlement of Villa de la Vega was founded by governor Francisco de Garay in 1534 as the capital of the colony. Later, it was also called Santiago de la Vega or St. Jago de la Vega. Indigenous Taino had been living in the area for approximately a millennium before this, but this was the first European habitation on the south of the island. When the English conquered Jamaica in 1655, they renamed the settlement as Spanish Town. Since the town was badly damaged during the conquest, Port Royal took on many administrative roles and functioned as an unofficial capital during the beginning of English rule. By the time Port Royal was devastated by an earthquake in 1692, Spanish Town had been rebuilt and was again functioning as the capital. Spanish Town remained the capital until 1872, when the seat of the colony was moved to Kingston. Kingston had been founded in the aftermath of the 1692 earthquake. By 1755, serious rivalry from lobbyists caused increasing speculation about the continued suitability of Spanish Town as the capital. In 1836, Governor Lionel Smith observed that "the capital was in ruins, with no commercial, manufacturing and agricultural concern in operation." To worsen the situation, following the Morant Bay Rebellion of 1865, Sir John Peter Grant ordered the removal of the capital in 1872 to Kingston. As a larger port, it had come to be considered the natural capital of the island.  After the seat of government was relocated, Spanish Town lost much of its economic and cultural vitality.

Question: Approximately how many years had indigenous Taino in the area where the Spanish settlement of Villa de la Vega was located?
Answer: 1000

Question: Following the earthquake in 1692 that devastated Port Royal, how many years did Spanish Town remain the capital until it was moved to Kingston?
Answer: 280

Question: By whose proclamation was Kingston named the capital?
Answer: Sir John Peter Grant

Question: How many years was Villa de la Vega considered the capital of the colony before it was renamed Spanish Town?
Answer: 121

Question: Which event happened first, the earthquake that devastated Port Royal or the move of the capital to Kingston?
Answer: capital in 1872 to Kingston, earthquake in 1692

Question: How many years were between the Morant Bay Rebellion and Kingston becoming the capital?
Answer: 7

Question: Which happened first, the Morant Bay Rebellion or when the English conquered Jamaica?
Answer: English conquered Jamaica

Question: Which settlement was Lionel Smith referring to when he said "the capital was in ruins, with no commercial, manufacturing and agricultural concern in operation," Kingston or Spanish Town?
Answer: Spanish Town

Question: Which settlement was devastated in 1692 by an earthquake, Kingston or Port Royal?
Answer: Port Royal

Question: How many years after Governor Lionel Smith saw that the capital was in ruins was the capital moved to Kingston?
Answer: 36

Question: Which city was the capital first, Kingston or Spanish Town?
Answer: Spanish Town

Question: Which city was founded first, Spanish Town or Kingston?
Answer: Spanish Town

Question: What other names was Spanish Town previously known as?
Answer: Villa de la Vega, Santiago de la Vega, St. Jago de la Vega

Question: How many years after the Spanish settlment of Villa de la Vega was founded did the English conquer Jamaica?
Answer: 21

Question: How many years after the English conquered Jamaica was Port Royal devastated by an earthquake?
Answer: 37

Question: What are two other names for Santiago de la Vega?
Answer: Villa de la Vega, St. Jago de la Vega

Question: How many years after Kingston was founded did the seat of Spanish Town move to Kingston?
Answer: 180

Question: How many years after the Morant Bay Rebellion did Sir John Peter Grant order the removal of the capital to Kingston?
Answer: 7

Question: How many years after Villa de la Vega was founded as the capital of the colony did Sir John Peter Grant order the removal of the capital to Kingston?
Answer: 337