The island was uncolonised when it was determined by the Portuguese navigator Pedro de Mascarenhas during the early 16th century. In 1643 it was claimed by the French, who named it Bourbon and accomplished the first colony here in 1662; slaves were brought from Africa to work the sugar plantations. The island was renamed Réunion in 1793. It remained a French colony, except for a brief British occupation from 1810 to 1815. After slavery was abolished in 1848, indentured servants were brought to the island from India and southeastern Asia. Réunion became an overseas department of France in 1946 and an administrative region in 1974. It sends five directly elected deputies to the French National Assembly and three indirectly elected representatives to the Senate. Local government is maintained by the 47-member General Council and the 45-member Regional Council, each elected by the voters. Area, 2,511 sq km (970 sq mi); population (2001 estimate) 732,570.