1600s

It was once leased to Sir Thomas Temple (1614–1674),^[5] a British proprietor and governor of Nova Scotia^[6][7] although this descent was debunked by E. A. Freeman in the 19th century.^[8] Sir Thomas Temple was also the uncle of John Nelson (1654–1734), a New England trader and statesman, who owned neighboring Long Island in Boston Harbor, which at one time was also known as "Nelson's Island".

Over the years, Deer Island has had several different uses. During King Philip's War (also known as Metacomet's War) in the 1670s, it was used as a place of internment. Christian "Praying Indians" were moved from Concord, Marlborough, Grafton, Massachusetts, and Natick in spite of the efforts of John Eliot,^[9] the minister of Roxbury, to prevent it. Most went to Deer Island, but at least one colony was sent to Long Island.^[10] Additionally, a group of nine Praying Indian women and their six children were sent to Great Brewster Island because they did not wish to join their husbands on Deer Island. ^[11]

During the winter of 1675–76, between 500 and 1,100 American Indians were held on the island, and without adequate food or shelter and because of exposure to harsh winter weather, many died. Some, such as the medicine man, Tantamous, escaped Deer Island only to be recaptured later.

19th-20th century

Almshouse, Deer Island, 1851

In the middle of the 19th century, the island was the landing point for thousands of refugees from the Great Famine of Ireland, many sick and poverty-stricken.^[12] In 1847, a hospital was established to treat incoming immigrants, and during the following two years, about 4,800 men, women, and children were admitted. Many recovered and went on to new lives, but more than 800 died.^[13] In 1850, an almshouse was built to house paupers. Opened in 1853, it was administered by the City of Boston.^[14] Today, a Celtic Cross is erected not far from the old site of the Almshouse, honoring the 850 who died during the Famine Era.^[15]

The likely site of the old Almshouse on Dear Island (42.353294, -70.964300)

The Deer Island wastewater plant and surrounding park area, 2008

In 1896, the almshouse facility became one of the short-term prisons for Suffolk County. The Deer Island House of Correction existed until 1991, when the prisoners were permanently transferred to the South Bay House of Correction.^[16][17] The Deer Island prison is mentioned in Sylvia Plath's poem "Point Shirley" and her novel The Bell Jar.

In his book A Short History of Nearly Everything, Bill Bryson mentions an experiment done at the naval prison on Deer Island. Following the August 1918 flu pandemic, in an attempt to develop a vaccine, 62 volunteers were selected from 300 prisoners. These men were promised pardons if they survived a set of tests. None of the volunteers fell sick, but the ward doctor contracted the disease and died. The prisoners possibly became immunized due to exposure to the virus during the weeks preceding the trial, experiencing few symptoms or none at all.^[18] The doctor in charge of the experiment, Joseph Goldberger, published a report on the experiment in 1921. His report mentions the volunteers coming from a naval facility on Deer Island, but nothing regarding prisoners or pardoning of sentences. Two separate entities existed on Deer Island for naval facilities and correctional facilities: Fort Dawes and the House of Correction. Goldberger's final report mentions two experiments on Deer Island at different times (November to December 1918 and February to March 1919), as well as a third in San Francisco (November to December 1918).^[19]

The first sewage-treatment plant was constructed on Deer Island in the late 19th century and expanded in the 1960s. The current plant dates from the 1990s.^[3] Deer Island has been connected to the mainland since the New England Hurricane of 1938.^[1]

A lighthouse was erected just offshore from the island in 1890; it was replaced by a modern tower in 1984.^[20][21]