Volcanic island in the West Indies, one of
the Leeward group, a British crown colony;
capital Plymouth; area 110 sq km/42 sq mi;
population (1985) 12,000. Practically all
buildings were destroyed by Hurricane Hugo
Sept 1989. Montserrat produces cotton,
cotton-seed, coconuts, citrus and other
fruits, and vegetables. Its first European
visitor was Christopher Columbus 1493, who
named it after the mountain in Spain. It was
first colonized by English and Irish settlers
who moved from St Christopher 1632. The
island became a British crown colony 1871.