St. Helena was discovered by a Portuguese expedition under Joao de Nova on St. Helenas Day, 21 May 1502. All the early visitors, and indeed all visitors up to the present with the exception of Napoleon, seem to have been impressed with the island. Because of its situation offering a convenient refreshment station, there were continual efforts made by the Portuguese, the Dutch and the English to secure it. Eventually it was occupied by the English East India Company in 1659 and apart from a brief occupation by the Dutch in 1672/3, it has been British ever since.