Kingston

Capital, largest city, and principal port of Jamaica, West Indies, on the southeast coast; population (2002 est) 583,900. It is the cultural and commercial centre of the island. Industries include tourism, textiles, petroleum products, and clothing, while major exports are agricultural goods such as sugar, bananas, coffee, rum, and molasses.

Founded in 1693, Kingston became the capital of Jamaica in 1872 and remained capital at independence in 1962. Notable features include the 17th-century fortress of Rockfort and the 18th-century Headquarters House (where the government was once based). The University of the West Indies (1948) is in the suburb of Mona, and the city is also the home of the College of Arts, Science and Technology (1958).

The raising of taxes to service Jamaica's international debts led to violent anti-government protests in the late 1990s, notably in 1999.

Kingston

City and port in southeastern Ontario, Canada, at the mouth of the St Lawrence River on Lake Ontario; seat of Frontenac County; population (1991) 56,600. It is an important shipping and manufacturing centre; industries include shipbuilding yards, engineering works, synthetic fibres, ceramics, and grain elevators.

The community was first established as a French trading post in 1673, growing up around a French fort, Fort Frontenac, which was captured by British forces in 1758. Kingston was claimed by United Empire Loyalists in 1783 and named after George III of England; it served as the capital of Upper Canada from 1841 to 1844. It was incorporated as a city in 1846.

The city is the seat of Queen's University at Kingston (1841), the Royal Military College of Canada (1876), the Canadian Army Staff College (1947), and the National Defence College (1948).