in 1505 by spanish navigator juan de bermúdez (who said it to be inhabited only with pigs), after whom the islands are named. bermúdez claimed it for the spanish empire. unoccupied, the island was settled by england in 1609, making it the oldest and most populous remaining british overseas territory. its first capital, st george's, was founded in 1612 and is the oldest continuously inhabited english town in the americas.