History of Prince Edward Island

The narrative surveys the island's geography and colonial settlement, tracing its transfer into British hands and the development of townsites and agriculture. It recounts successive administrations, local politics, and recurring disputes over absentee proprietors, quit-rents, and tenant rights that became the central Land Question. The account examines population changes, immigration, social institutions such as education and temperance, moves toward Catholic emancipation and responsible government, and official inquiries and commissions that proposed remedies. Episodes include estate purchases, census reports, and royal visits, all presented to explain how governance and land tenure shaped the island's social and economic evolution.