The country owes its name to the 15th-century Portuguese explorer Pedro, the first European to sight and map Freetown harbor. The original Portuguese name, Serra Lyoa (“Lion Mountains”), referred to the range of hills surrounding the harbor. In no time, it emerged as a favored stopover for Portuguese sailors seeking shelter and a source of fresh drinking water.
In 1787, the British created a settlement in Freetown as a home for freed African slaves, establishing the Sierra Leone Company. This settlement attracted not only freed slaves but also Maroons and indigenous people who sought refuge from enslavement. The British eventually gained full control over Sierra Leone, making it a British Crown Colony in 1808.
Freetown, the Capital of Sierra Leone eventually became an important center for the abolitionist movement. Missionaries and educators from Europe and America arrived, promoting Christianity and establishing schools. The creation of Fourah Bay College in 1827, one of the first Western-style universities in West Africa, provided higher education opportunities for Africans. Many notable African leaders and intellectuals emerged from this institution.
During the 20th century, Sierra Leone began to witness a growing demand for self-governance. In the 1920s, educated elites formed political organizations such as the Sierra Leone National Congress and the West African Youth League, advocating for increased representation and autonomy. In 1951, Sierra Leone achieved self-government within the
British Commonwealth, and in 1961, it gained full independence making it a Democratic Republic earning the name The Republic of Sierra Leone. Sir Milton Margai became the country’s first Prime Minister.