Trinidad was first "discovered" in 1498 by Christopher Columbus on his third voyage to the New World. From this time until 1797, Trinidad remained under Spanish rule. In 1797, British forces overwhelmed the Spaniards on Trinidad and claimed the island. In 1802 Trinidad was declared a British colony.

Tobago's history was quite different, with ownership changing hands from France to Spain to Holland to Britian as many as 33 times. In 1814 it too became a British colony.

The two islands were administratively linked in 1889 and in 1890 they were politically linked. Upon earning the status of a Republic in 1976, the new country became the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Trinidad & Tobago gained independence in 1962 and became a Republic in 1976.