| Conventional Long Name: | Federal Colony of the Leeward Islands |
| Common Name: | Leeward Islands |
| Status: | Colony of the United Kingdom |
| Empire: | United Kingdom |
| Year Start: | 1671 |
| Year End: | 1958 |
| Date End: | 3 January |
| Event End: | Disestablished |
| Event1: | Divided |
| Date Event1: | 1816 |
| Event2: | Reformed |
| Date Event2: | 1833 |
| Event3: | Federal colony |
| Date Event3: | 1871 |
| Event4: | Dominica joined |
| Date Event4: | 1871 |
| Event5: | Dominica left |
| Date Event5: | 1940 |
| P1: | Anguilla |
| Flag P1: | Flag of the United Kingdom.svg |
| P2: | Antigua |
| Flag P2: | Flag of the United Kingdom.svg |
| P3: | Barbuda |
| Flag P3: | Flag of the United Kingdom.svg |
| P4: | Dominica |
| Flag P4: | Flag of the United Kingdom.svg |
| P5: | Montserrat |
| Flag P5: | Flag of the United Kingdom.svg |
| P6: | Nevis |
| Flag P6: | Flag of the United Kingdom.svg |
| P7: | Saint KittsSaint Christopher |
| Flag P7: | Flag of the United Kingdom.svg |
| P8: | British Virgin IslandsVirgin Islands |
| Flag P8: | Flag of the United Kingdom.svg |
| S1: | West Indies Federation |
| Flag S1: | Flag of West Indies.svg |
| S2: | British Virgin Islands |
| Flag S2: | Flag of the British Virgin Islands.svg |
| Flag: | Flag of the British Leeward Islands |
| Flag Type: | Flag (1871–1952) |
| Capital: | St. John's |
| National Anthem: | "God Save the Queen/King" |
| Government Type: | Constitutional monarchy |
| Title Leader: | Monarch |
| Leader1: | Charles II |
| Leader2: | Elizabeth II |
| Year Leader1: | 1671–1685 (first) |
| Year Leader2: | 1952–1958 (last) |
| Title Representative: | Governor-in-chief |
| Representative1: | William Stapleton |
| Representative2: | Alexander Williams |
| Year Representative1: | 1671-1683 (first) |
| Year Representative2: | 1957–1960 (last) |
| Religion: | Christianity (Anglican, Catholic, Methodist) |
The British Leeward Islands was a British colony from 1671 to 1958, consisting of the English (later British) overseas possessions in the Leeward Islands. It ceased to exist from 1816 to 1833, during which time it was split into two separate colonies (Antigua–Barbuda–Montserrat and Saint Christopher–Nevis–Anguilla–Virgin Islands). It was dissolved in 1958 after the separation of the British Virgin Islands, and the remaining islands became parts of the West Indies Federation.
The Leeward Islands was established as an English colony in 1671. In 1816, the islands were divided in two regions: Antigua, Barbuda, and Montserrat in one colony, and Saint Christopher, Nevis, Anguilla, and the Virgin Islands in the other.
The Leeward Islands were united again as a semi-federal entity in 1833, coming together until 1872 under the administration of the Governor of Antigua. The islands then became known as the Federal Colony of the Leeward Islands from 1872 to 1956. From 1833 to 1940, Dominica was part of the colony; in 1940, it was transferred to the British Windward Islands group.[1]
On 3 January 1958, all islands except the Virgin Islands were absorbed into the West Indies Federation. The British Leeward Islands finally ceased to exist with the abolition of the office of its governor, and the elevation of the British Virgin Islands to the status of a separate crown colony, in 1960.[2] [3]
A representative Leeward Islands cricket team continues to participate in West Indian domestic cricket.
The armed forces of the colony included structures from Saint Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Antigua, Dominica, and British Virgin Islands.[4]
See main article: Postage stamps and postal history of the Leeward Islands and Revenue stamps of the Leeward Islands. The islands of the Leeward Islands all used postage stamps inscribed "LEEWARD ISLANDS" between 1890 and 1 July 1956, often concurrently with stamps inscribed with the colony's name. The islands also issued revenue stamps between 1882 and the 1930s.