When did proprietary government start in The Bahamas?

Proprietary government in The Bahamas began in 1670 with the signing of the Treaty of Madrid, which ceded the islands to the British and established a system of proprietary rule. This system was characterized by granting land and governance rights to private proprietors, who were responsible for the administration and development of the islands. The proprietary period lasted until 1718, when The Bahamas was made a royal colony, shifting governance directly under the British Crown.