At the mouth of the Carbonear, harbour sits Carbonear Island. The small uninhabited island is rich in history and played an important role in keeping Newfoundland English.
Carbonear was captured by the French in 1696, 1697 and again in 1705. This island was one of the places the French could not capture.
Carbonear Island was fortified in 1679 and was the only Newfoundland site to resist French attacks in 1697.
The most famous incident dates back to the winter of 1697. Pierre Le Moyne D'Iberville and his forces had a goal to destroy the English fishery in Newfoundland.
They captured St. John's in late November. From there D'Iberville's forces systematically overran English settlements along the eastern shore, except for Carbonear Island.