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Devil's Island is a small rocky islet in the Atlantic Ocean just off the northern coast of French Guiana whose name is synonymous with a desolate, inescapable and horrific prison. First opened by Emperor Napoleon III, Devil's Island would become one of the most famous prisons in history. In addition to the prison on the island, prison facilities were located on the mainland at Kourou. Over time, they became known collectively as "Devil's Island".

Used by France from 1852 to 1946, its residents were everything from political prisoners to the most hardened of thieves and murderers. A great many of the more than 80,000 prisoners sent to the harsh conditions at disease-infested Devil’s Island were never seen again. Other than by boat, the only way out was through an impenetrable jungle; accordingly, very few convicts ever managed to escape.

The horrors of the penal settlement became notorious in 1895 with the publicity surrounding the plight of French army captain Alfred Dreyfus who was sent there.

Several movies, songs, a stage play, as well as a number of books feature Devil's Island. The most famous was a 1970 bestselling book by an ex-Devil's Island convict named Henri CharrièreHenri Charriere ( 16 November 1906 July 29 1973) was chiefly known as the author of Papillon a memoir of his incarceration in a penal colony on French Guiana. The book details his numerous escapes, attempted escapes, adventures and recaptures from his imp published under the title PapillonThe Papillon is a novel written around 1970 by an ex-convict Henri Charriere of Devils Island, where this story is set. The book details his numerous escapes, attempted escapes, adventures and recaptures from his imprisonment in 1931 to his final escape t. The book told of his numerous escape attempts and in 1973Events January events January 1 United Kingdom, Ireland, and Denmark enter the European Economic Community now known as the European Union January 3 Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) sells the New York Yankees for $10 million to a 12-person syndicate led it was made into a movie starring Steve McQueenSteve McQueen ( March 24, 1930 November 7, 1980) was an American movie actor. He was born Terence Steven McQueen in Beech Grove, Indiana. He never knew his father, who abandoned his wife and child shortly after McQueen was born. He was raised in Slater, M and Dustin HoffmanDustin Hoffman (born Sunday, August 8, 1937) is one of the dominant American film actors of the late twentieth century. Biography Hoffman was born in Los Angeles, California and graduated from Los Angeles High School where he was voted "least likely to su.

Before the bestseller Papillon, Rene Belbenoit's book, titled Dry Guillotine published in 1938 was instrumental in exposing the prison colony of Devils Island.

In 1938Events January -June January 3 The March of Dimes is established by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. January 11 Frances Moulton is the first woman to become president of a US national bank. January 20 Wedding of king Farouk I of Egypt and Farida Zulficar in Cai the French government stopped sending prisoners to Devil’s Island, and in 1946 the prison closed permanently. Most of the prisoners returned to France, although some elected to remain in French Guiana. The island is now used by the European Space Agency as base for launching satellites.