Timeline of Old Calabar history

This is a timeline of Old Calabar history, comprising important historical events in the history of Old Calabar.

1668-1767

Year	Date	Event
1720	October	Pirates led by Captain Bartholomew Roberts attempted to obtain provisions at Old Calabar but the residents refused to trade with them.[1]

1767-1846

Year	Date	Event
1820		Death of Chief Eyo Nsa of Creek Town.[2]
1834	14 October	Death of Great Duke Ephraim, Efiom Edem Efiom Okoho.[3]
1835		Eyo Honesty II crowned himself as king of Creek town.[4]
1842	December	King Eyamba V and King Eyo Honesty II of Creek town respectively wrote to the British monarch to send Teachers, Missionaries and agricultural experts to Old Calabar to teach.[5]

1846-1902

Year	Date	Event
1846		King Eyamba led an abortive punitive expedition against Umon.[6]
	6 May	Duke Town School, Old Calabar was opened with 20 pupils.[7]
	14 May	Death of King Eyamba V.[7]
1848		Kingship dispute erupted between Ntiero Offiong Okoho, Edem-Odo Duke Ephraim and Efio-Okoho Archibong Ekpo.[7]
1850		Ekpe law was proclaimed abolishing human sacrifices.[8]
		The presbyterian church, Creek town was built.[8]
1851	January	The blood men organisation was formed to challenge immolation of slaves at funeral of noblemen and women.[8]
	28 February	Adam Duke alias 'King war' died.[8]
		Ekpo Edem alias 'Ironbar' died.[9]
1852	4 February	King Archibong I of Old Calabar died.[9]
		A great fire burnt King Eyo II's mansion and warehouse in Creek town.[9]
	April	Edem-Odo alias 'Duke Ephraim V' was selected king but was only crowned later under the auspices of Sir John Beecroft in 1854.[9]
1853	October	Essien Essien Ukpabio and Prince Eyọ Ita (later King Eyọ III) were baptised by Rev. Hugh Goldie.[9]
1855	19 January	Obutong was destroyed by Lt. I. W. B. Lyslanger, Acting Consul of H.M. Ship 'Antelope' due to funeral rites performed for the late king.[9]
	11 February	Ekpenyong Ekpenyong Ofiong Okoho (Mr. Young) died.[10]
	25 February	Duke town church was opened.[10]
	9 September	Creek town presbyterian church was opened.[10]
1856		The Court of Equity was formed for the security of Trade and settlement of trade disputes in Old Calabar.[10]

References

1. Simmons, p.40
2. Simmons, p.217
3. Duke, Great Calabar, p.109
4. Duke, Great Calabar, p.9
5. Talbot, p.193
6. Talbot, p.195
7. Duke, Great Calabar, p.10
8. Duke, Great Calabar, p.11
9. Duke, Great Calabar, p.12
10. Duke, Great Calabar, p.13

Bibliography

• Duke, Orok Orok Effiom (2008), Great Calabar Chronicle: People, World Events and Dates, 1500-2007, Calabar: Clinprint International, ISBN 978-978-016-624-3
• Simmons, Donald C. (1968) [1st pub. 1956], "An Ethnographic Sketch of the Efik people", in Forde, Daryll (ed.), Efik Traders of Old Calabar, London: Dawsons of Pall Mall OCLC 67514086
• Talbot, Percy Amaury (1969) [1st pub. 1926], The People of Southern Nigeria: a sketch of their history, ethnology and languages, with an abstract of the 1921 census, vol. 1, London: Frank Cass & Co. Ltd. OCLC 716063900
• Simmons, Donald C. (1958). Analysis of the Reflection of Culture in Efik folktales (PhD). Yale University.