1635    Guadeloupe becomes a French colony.

1810    The Royal Navy seizes Guadeloupe.

1946    French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion become overseas ''départements'' of France.

1962    An Air France Boeing 707 jet crashes in bad weather in Guadeloupe, West Indies, killing 113.

1970    In Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe, 1.5 inches (38.1 mm) of rain fall in a minute, the heaviest rainfall ever recorded.

2004    The island of Dominica is hit by the most destructive earthquake in its history. The northern half of the island receives the most damage, especially the town of Portsmouth. It is also felt in neighboring Guadeloupe, where one person is killed.