The islands were discovered by Juan Bermúdez, in 1503, but were uninhabited until colonists under Sir George Somers were wrecked there in 1609. A company was formed for the ‘Plantation of the Somers’ Islands’, and in 1684 the Crown took over the government. A referendum in August 1995 rejected independence from the United Kingdom. Bermuda consists of a group of 138 islands and islets. | The islands were discovered by Juan Bermúdez, in 1503, but were uninhabited until colonists under Sir George Somers were wrecked there in 1609. A company was formed for the ‘Plantation of the Somers’ Islands’, and in 1684 the Crown took over the government. A referendum in August 1995 rejected independence from the United Kingdom. Bermuda consists of a group of 138 islands and islets. |