Danish West Indies

The Danish West Indies are a former colony of Denmark in the Caribbean, currently known as the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Danish West India and Guinea Company[?] settled on St. Thomas island first in 1672, expanding to St. John in 1683, purchasing St. Croix from The French West Indies Company[?] in 1733. In 1754, the islands were sold to the Danish king to become royal Danish colonies.

In the beginning of the 19th century, the isles were briefly in British hands, but afterwards remained Danish until December 1916, when they were sold to the United States, which was interested in the islands because of their strategic position near the approach of the Panama Canal.