Local tradition recounts that Christopher Columbus named the island Tórtola, meaning "turtle dove" in Spanish.

[citation needed] On his second voyage for the Spanish Crown to the Caribbean or West Indies, Christopher Columbus spotted what are now called the British and U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Spanish made a few attempts to settle the islands, but pirates such as Blackbeard and Captain Kidd were the first permanent residents.

In the late 16th century[citation needed], the English, who had successfully settled the area contesting claims by the Dutch, established a permanent plantation colony on Tortola and the surrounding islands.

Settlers developed the islands for the sugarcane industry, with large plantations dependent on the slave labour of Africans bought from local chiefs and transported across the Atlantic.

The majority of early settlers came in the late 18th century: Loyalists from the Thirteen Colonies after the American Revolutionary War were given land grants here by the Crown to encourage development.

After the abolition of slavery in the British colonies in 1834, planters found it difficult to make a profit in the sugar industry based on paying and managing free labour.

During the downturn as sugar agriculture became less profitable, a large proportion of the white landowning population left the British Virgin Islands.[when?]

[6][7] A report by Sky News summarized the aftermath of the storm as: "The scale of the damage on the island of Tortola is truly shocking.

"[8] By 8 September, the UK had sent the Royal Engineers and Commandos to reinstate law and order and to set up satellite communications with the world.

Citco is a privately owned global hedge fund administrator headquartered in Tortola, founded in 1948.

[6] Premier Orlando Smith called for a comprehensive aid package to rebuild the British Virgin Islands.

The UK pledged £32 million of aid for Caribbean islands that were affected by the hurricane but did not provide specifics as to the amount that would be allocated to the BVI.

In addition to beaches, marine activities such as sailing, surfing, scuba diving, kite boarding, and windsurfing are available.

The airport is located on Beef Island, just to the east of Tortola, and is connected by the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.

Island Birds Air Charter connects to San Juan, Saint Thomas, Antigua and St Marten.

InterCaribbean Airways, Ltd. and Sky High Aviation Services offers non-stop flights between Dominican Republic and Beef Island.