17640: Prince Edward Island, Canada

The original inhabitants of Prince Edward Island were Micmac; the island was explored by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and claimed for France by Samuel de Champlain in 1603. It was first settled by the French in 1719 but became a British colony under the Treaty of Paris in 1763 and was later renamed to honour Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent and commander in chief of royal forces in North America. The province joined Confederation in 1873.

Emigration from Scotland to the island began towards the end of the eighteenth century. Moidart tacksman John Macdonald organised a passage for 200 in 1772, and 800 Scottish settlers arrived with the Earl of Selkirk in 1803.

The island is also known in Gaelic as Eilean Eòin (Bird Island) or Eilean Dearg (Red Island).