Slave Sally Bassett has proved the inspiration for one of Dolphin Quest's newborn calves.

The baby dolphin born on June 6 has been named Bermudiana after the tiny purple iris found growing in the ashes of the slave girl.

Sally was sentenced to death on June 6, 1730, and then burned at the stake. She always maintained her innocence and said God would send a sign to prove it.

People then found the Bermudiana flowering out of her ashes and Sally became a focus of the anti-slavery movement.

Katie Page submitted the winning name for Bermudiana, who is Caliban's calf.

From May 23 to June 6, dolphins Cirrus, Bailey and Caliban gave birth to three female calves, and last month Dolphin Quest ran a competition to name the newborns.

The contest attracted more than 550 entries, presenting the crew with the difficult task of choosing the winners.

Cirrus's calf is now to be called Luna, from a suggestion by Alex Jenkins. Luna is the name of the Bermuda Moongate — a national symbol.

Legend has it that people who walk through a Moongate are blessed with good luck, especially young lovers and honeymooners.

Bailey's baby has been named Nea. Jane Downing chose the winning entry, which was inspired by a Bermuda-designed and built racing yacht in the late nineteenth century, christened after a member of the Gosling family.

Katie, Alex and Jane will each receive photographs of their named dolphins and will also get to meet the mothers and calves at the Bermuda Maritime Museum facility.

A spokeswoman for Dolphin Quest said: "We would like to thank the public for helping to name the three dolphin babies. We invite everyone to stop by and say hello to the new babies at Dolphin Quest Bermuda."

For more information, telephone 234 4464 or visit www.dolphinquest.org.