The Principality of Trinidad was declared in 1893, when the American James Harden-Hickey claimed the uninhabited island Trindade and Martim Vaz in the South Atlantic and declared himself as James I, Prince of Trinidad. According to Harden-Hickey's plans the island would, after being recognized as an independent country, become a military dictatorship under his leadership. He designed postage stamps, a national flag, and a coat of arms; he established a chivalric order, the "Cross of Trinidad;" he bought a schooner to transport colonists; he appointed M. le Comte de la Boissiere as Secretary of State and opened a consular office at 217 West 36th Street in New York, and even issued government bonds to finance construction of infrastructure in the island.