A Chronology of the History of the Falkland Islands

The following table is a chronology of events in the history of the Falkland Islands. I have included every event that I have heard of. If you know of events that I have missed, please send me details and supporting evidence. If you believe any item to be inaccurate please contact me; make sure that you provide enough detail to convince me that you are right!

Use these links to navigate through time!
Back to top 1500's 1600's 1700's 1800's 1900's the end

1501-1502	Americo Vespucci's voyage. Possible sighting
1503-1504	Binot Palmiere de Gonneville's voyage. Possible sighting
1520	Desertion of Esteban Gomez, with the ship San Antonio. A candidate for the first discovery of the Falkland Islands. The sailors gave the islands the name Is Sanson (Abbreviation of the ships name) The ship was part of Fernando de Magallanes expedition and arrived back in Spain on 6th May 1521. Claims to have been proven by Uruguan historian Rolando Laguada Trias in 1983
1520s ish!	Presumed to be the first cartografic record of the Falkland Islands on the charts oFalkland Islands on the charts of Piri Reis. Piri Reis was a Turkish admiral who drew some outstanding charts of the world. The study of his work is a fascinating subject of its own; a good biography can be found here. His charts showed details that were not generally known at the time, such as details of the mountains under the ice of Antarctica, which was not known to have been discovered at that time!
1525-1526	Captain Pedro Vega of the vessel Anunciada belonging to Frey Garcia Jofre de Loaysa's expedition possible sighting but not proven
1529	Map of Diego de Ribero where the position of the Islands is indicated. Diego Ribero, cosmographer to the king of Spain, made a new chart of the world on which the vast extent of the Pacific was first shown. Survivors of Magellan's circumnavigation of the world had arrived in Seville in 1522, giving Ribero much new information. Latitude shown as 49 South. According to some sources it can be shown that Esteban Gomez met Diego de Ribero.
1540	Possible visit to the islands by Alonso de Camargo, Commander of la Incognita Bishop of Pencia's fleet
1541	Map XV del Islario (atlas) de Alonso de Santa Cruz, where they the islands appear indicated as the Sanson islands, one of the first presumed names of the Falklands. Latitude 51 South
1543-1545	Juan Bautista Agnese's nautical chart; Sanson Islands indicated
1562	Map by Bartholome Olives, with an indication of Sanson Islands
1562	Map by Diego Gutiérrez, showing Sanson Islands. Click here to see the one in the Library of Congress. (may be the same map as the previous entry?)
1571	Map by Fernao Vaz Dourado, with an indication of the islands
1577	Martinez nutical chart; Sanson Islands indicated
1580	Olives Nautical chart; Sanson islands indicated
1580	Circumnavigation be Sir Francis Drake
1583	Voyage of Sariemento de Gamboa, possible rediscovery of the islands
1584	The right of possessory act finishes installing a permanent establishment in the Straits and zones of influence (A Spanish plan to inhabit the region and thus claim territory).
1586	Thomas Cavendish incidents
1588	Cavendish arrives back in Plymouth with only one ship, the Desire
1590	The islands are conspicuous on the navigation charts of the Spanish and Italians
1591	Second voyage of Cavendish.
1592	Captain John Davis of the Desire discovers the islands on 14th August 1592 - Desire was part of Cavendish's fleet. First British claim to the discovery of the islands.
1592	Cavedish in the Dainty found twenty-three of the Spanish Magellan garrison alive, the remainder having starved to death (near Punta Arenas, Chile).
1593	Richard Hawkins, son of John, Sails to the South seas
1594	Discovery of the Falklands by Hawkins, who gives them with the name of Hawkins Maiden Land. The story was published 23 years after the voyage and several historians doubt it's validity; however his description of parts of the coast is very recognisable. Read his account
1598	Dutch Captain Sebald de Weert in the Het Gheloove sighted the Jason Islands naming them the Sebaldines. This was an expedition of five ships from Rotterdam to the South Seas. One survives commanded by Sebald De Weert.

1615-1616	The Australische Compagnie expedition, commanded by Jacob le Maire with the ships Eendracht commanded by Wilhelm Cornelius Schoutenand the Hoorn commanded by Jan Cornelius Schouten. Cape Horn, which was rounded on 29th January, is named after the Hoorn, which was lost by fire on the coast of Patagonia. This voyage had the aim of finding a second route to the South Sea (Pacific Ocean) as the Dutch East India Company had control of the Magellan strait. A possible sighting in January of 1616. Diaries complete with maps were published.
1618	Hernandarias recommends the defense of the Straits.
1675	Antonio de la Roche, possible discoverer of South Georgia.
1684	John Cook, Ambro, Ambrose Cowley and William Dampier on board of Batchelors Delight, according to Dampier's journal call at the "Sibbel de Wards" (Sebaldines/Jason Islands)for which a reasonably accurate location is given. Cowley's account differs and he spawned the legend of Pepys Island, due to his inaccurate location and fanciful description.
1690	Captain John Strong of the sloop Welfare makes the first landing in Falkland Sound near Port Howard. He called the islands "Hawkins Maiden Land" but named Falkland Sound after the Treasurer of the Navy, Viscount Falkland.
1696	Voyage of circumnavigation of William Dampier
1698	Captain Beauchene commander of the Phelupeaux, with Maurepas under Captain Terville and St Louis, departed from Saint Malo for the South Sea

1701	Beauchene discovers the island of his name and enters Berkeley Sound, known to the French as "Baye d'Acaron" and to the Spanish as "Bahia de la Anunciacion" or "Puerto de la Soledad"
1705	Captains Peree and Fouquet voyage
1706	Captain Boislore's Toisson D'Or
1706	Captain De la Marre's Saint Louis voyage
1707-1708	Captain Chabert's expedition (Amable and Oriflamme)
1708	Juan Doublet's Saint Jean Baptiste expedition
1708	Captain Chabert second trip (Notre Dame de L'Assomption)
1708	Captain Woods Rogers, who sailed around the islands in 1708, gave the name Falklands Land to the entire group in his account of his exploration. (Duke and Duchess)
1711	Voyage of Woods Rogers visits the Falkland Islands (Is this the same voyage as 1708?)
1711	Voyage of Jean Doublet in Saint Jean Baptiste Again is this the same voyage as 1708?)
1711-1713	Brignon's Notre Dame de L'Incarnation trip
1713	Treaty of Utrecht (Spanish sovereignty in the SW Atlantic recognized by Britain according to Argentine sources)
1721-1722	Admiral Jackob Roggeveen (or Jacob Roggewein) expedition
1740	Lord Anson expedition - He suggested using Pepys Island or the Falklands as a base for further operations into the Pacific.
1749	Lord Anson puts together an expedition to explore the area of the Falklands and to find Pepys Island. The plan was laid before Spain who objected on the grounds that a British base in the area could cause future instability in the regionfuture instability in the region. Its seems that the expedition was scraped on the basis of Spains objection.
1764	Bougainville of France settles on East Falkland at Port Louis, and claims formal possesion of the islands on April 5th, 1764. The Spanish were concerned about the signals that this settlement would send to the British and offered to buy the settlement from France.
1765	British expedition to find Pepys Island and explore the Falklands. This expedition was under the command of Comodore John Byron. They made landfall at the Falklands on 11th (or 12th) January and proceded to survey some of the coast. Then established a base at Port Egmont, Saunders Island.
1766	The British, Captain John McBride, establish a settlement at Port Egmont, on January 8th.
1766	In April Bougainville was dispatched to Madrid to discuss the terms with the Spanish court. The result was the France renounced their claance renounced their claim and Bougainville was paid for the cost of the settlement (£25,000).
1766	December 4th - The British discover the French settlement at Port Louis and demand that the French leave.
1767	On April 1st Bougainville transferred his settlement to a Spanish governor, Don Felipe Ruiz Puente.
1769	British and Spanish ships meet while both are engaged in survey cruises around the island. Letters are exchanged each stating that the other is there unlawfully.
1770	The Spanish under the command of Don Juan Ignacio de Madariaga arrive at Port Egmont and expell the British.
1771	On January 22nd after lengthy negotiations and the threat of war an agreement was signed giving Port Egmont back to the British.View the declarations On 15th September,the Spanish handed Port Emont back to the British represented by Captain Scott commanding the frigate Juno the sloop hound and the store ship Florida.
1774	The British withdraw from the Falkland Islands, leaving behind a flag and plaque claiming ownership of the islands. It should be noted that the British claim that they withdrew on the grounds of economy whilst Argentina claims that the withdrawal was part of secret clause in the deal of 1771.
1790	Spain and Britain sign the "Nootka Sound Convention" - More to come on this.

1806	In June the Spanish governor, Juan Crisostomo Martinez leaves the islands, leaving a plaque and claiming sovereignty, believing that the British had captured Buenos Aires. He had been misinformed however as the capture did not take place until July and in any case the Spanish recaptured the city five weeks later.
1811	The United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata (later to become Argentina) withdraws the remainder of the Spanish colony from the islands.
1813	On February the 8th the ship Isabella, under George Higton is wrecked on the coast of Eagle Island (now known as Speedwell Island). Six men from the ship commanded by Captain Brooks sail to the River Plate in one of the ships longboats, which was just under eighteen feet (5.4m) long. They made l (5.4m) long. They made landfall 31 days after leaving Eagle Island. In June some of the shipwrecked crew were rescued by Captain Barnard an American sealer with the ship Nanina. His ship was later taken as a prize by the British ship Nancy under Lt D'Aranda. Barnard and four men were marooned in the New Island area, where they survived for eighteen months. There are two excellent books covering these events "Marooned" and "The Wreck of the Isabella".
1814	November 27th - Barnard and his companions are rescued by the British ships Indispensible, William Buckle master, and Asp, John Kenny master.
1820	Argentina sends David Jewitt commander of the ship Heroina to the islands where he hoists their flag. They find as many as fifty ships of different kinds and nationalities there, most of the sealers and whalers.
1823	Don Pablo Aregusti was appointed as governor and Louis Vernet and Don Jorge Pacheco were given a concesion of land on East Falkland. There expedition fails and was abondoned the following year.
1826	Vernets second expedition arrives on the islands.
1828	Buenos Aires government granted Vernet permission to form a colony and given grant of all East Falkland together with sole rights to seal and fish.
1829	Vernet appointed Governor. Britain protests
1831	Vernet arrests three North American schooners for illegal sealing; Harriet, Superior and Breakwater. The Breakwater escaped and carried news of the arrests to the USA. The Superior was released and Harriet with her Captain were taken to Buenos Aires for trial. The US consul in Buenos Aires arranged the dispatch of the corvette Lexington under Commander Silas Duncan to Port Soledad where she arrived on December 28th and destroyed the settlement, and declared the islands free of all government. Matthew Brisbane, who had been left in charge of the settlement by Vernet was taken to Montevideo in irons.
1832	A new Governor (Don Juan Esteban Mestivier - note: I have misplaced any reference to the name of this man, any information would be appreciated) is appointed by Buenos Aires, but is murdered shortly after arriving in the islands
1832	December 20th the British arrive at Port Egmont and posted a notice of possesion.
1833	On January 2nd the British arrive, at Port Louis (Soledad) and take possesion of the islands. HMS Clio under Captain Onslow and HMS Tyne. The Argentine armed schooner Sarandi under Don Jose Maria Pinedo was in port. Onslow gave Pinedo written notice that he had been ordered to exercise British rights of sovereignty and that the next morning he would raise the British flag and requested that Pinedo lower the Argentine flag an Argentine flag and depart. Pinedo waited upon Onslow and protested refusing to lower the Argentine flag. However the next morning the British landed raised the British flag and lowered the Argentine flag, which was subsequently delivered to Pinedo. Sarandi left the islands taking aboard the Argentine soldiers that were on the islands. William Dickson, who was Vernet's bookeeper was left in charge of the settlement.
1833	In April Matthew Brisbane returned to take command of Vernets interests.
1833	In August Matthew Brisbane, Dickson and several others were murdered by a group of gauchos led by Antonio Rivero. See Thomas Helsby's account of the Port Louis Murders Surviving settlers escaped to some small islands in Berkley Sound.
1833	In October the sealer Hopeful, under Lt. Rea arrived and provides the escapees with temporay relief.
1834	(January) HMS Challenger arrives at Port Louis accompanied by Hopeful. Lt. Henry Smith the first officer of the Challenger, along with a boat crew, was left in charge of the settlement.
1834	(March) Rivero and the gauchos were arrested and taken to England via Rio de Janerio. They were never trialled and were returned to Montevideo by the Admiralty. An interesting point, the British say that they were released due to lack of evidence and whitnesses, the Argentines say it was because there were no charges to answer to.

1914	Battle of the Falklands, when a British naval force defeated a German force
1939	Battle of the River Plate, when a British naval force defeated the German pocket battleship Graf Spee
1973	Communicatins agreement signed
1976	Lord Shackleton's Econimic report on the islands
1982	Argentina invades and captures the islands on April 2nd
1982	On June 14th the Argentine forces on the islands surrender to the British Task Force.