in 1657, the english east india company was given a permit to govern st helena by oliver cromwell, and the following year the company decided to colonise the island with farmers. the first governor, captain john dutton, got there in 1659, and made st helena one of britain's oldest colonies outside north america and the caribbean. a fort was completed and a number of houses were built. after the restoration of the english monarchy in 1660, the east india company received a royal permit to start a colony in the island. the fort was named "james fort" and the town "jamestown", in honour of the duke of york, later king james ii of england.