Timeline of The History of The Falkland Islands - 19th Century

19th Century

• 1806: Spain recalls Governor Juan Crisostomo Martinez from the islands but leaves behind a plaque re-asserting Spanish dominion.
• 1807: Settlers on the Island face near starvation after the British occupy Montevideo and enforce a blockade.
• 1811: The Spanish evacuate Puerto Soledad, the islands become the domain of sealers and whalers.
• 1813: Isabella under Captain Higton is wrecked on Eagle Island (now known as Speedwell Island). 6 sailors undertake the hazardous voyage to the River Plate in an open longboat. The remaining crew are rescued by the American sealer Nanina under Captain Barnard. Whilst Barnard seeks additional supplies, the British crew seize Nanina and maroon the Americans.
• 1814: After being marooned for 18 months Barnard is rescued by the British whalers Asp and Indispensable.
• 1816: The United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, later called Argentina, claimed independence from Spain.
• 1819: The South Shetland Islands are discovered by Captain William Smith who claims possession for King George III.
• 1820: After an 8 month voyage, and with the ship in a poor state, the Argentine frigate, Heroína, puts into the islands in October. On 6 November Captain Jewett raises the flag and claims the islands for the United Provinces of the River Plate.
• 1821: South Orkney Islands are discovered by Captain George Powell who claims possession for King George IV.
• 1823: The United Provinces of the River Plate appoints Don Pablo Areguati as Commandant of Puerto Soledad. An appointment in name only as he never sets foot on the islands.
• 1824: Luis Vernet and his partner Pacheco attempt an expedition to the islands. The venture is a failure.
• 1825: The United Kingdom recognised Argentina's independence from Spain.
• 1826: Vernet's first attempt to establish a settlement. Expeditions fails due to Brazilian blockade and conditions encountered on the islands.
• 1828: Vernet's settlement established.
• 1829: Buenos Aires issues decree setting up "Political and Military command of the Malvinas". Britain protests.
• 1831: Vernet seizes three US vessels and imprisons their crews. The US sends the USS Lexington and arrests seven of Vernets men. The Captain of the Lexington offers to take the settlers off the island. Most accept, however 24 remain and continue working for Vernet. The US declares the islands free from Government.
• 1832: Argentina sends a garrison commanded by Captain Jean Etienne Mestivier. Mestivier is murdered following a mutiny.
• 1833: Britain re-establishes control of the islands. (See Re-establishment of British rule on the Falklands (1833).) William Dixon is named as the British representative and Matthew Brisbane returns to take over Vernet's settlement at Port Louis. Charles Darwin's first visit to the islands. In August, Antonio Rivero leads a gang of creoles and Gauchos who murder key members of the settlement.
• 1834: Installation of the first British resident, Lt Henry Smith. Smith arrests Rivero's gang, restores the settlement and renames it Ansons Harbour. Charles Darwin's second visit.
• 1838: Lt Lowcay replaces Lt Smith.
• 1839: Lt Lowcay is replaced by Lt Robinson, in December Robinson is relieved by Lt Tyssen. Vernet is refused permission to return to the islands. G.T.Whittington forms a company to exploit fishery and agriculture, petitions the British Government to colonise the islands.
• 1840: The British approve the formation of a colony on the islands.
• 1841: General Rosas offers to relinquish any claim to sovereignty over the Falkland Islands in return for the relief of the Argentine debt to City of London interests. The British decline the offer. Lt Governor Moody is appointed as the first British Governor of the Islands, a Letters Patent establishes the legal framework for the colony.
• 1843: Work begins on the new town of Port Stanley, at Jackson's Harbour. South Georgia is placed under the administration of the Falkland Islands by the Letters Patent of 1843.
• 1845: In July, Stanley becomes new capital of the Falkland Islands.
• 1846: Samuel Lafone is awarded a contract to exploit feral cattle on East Falkland. He names the peninsular south of East Falkland Lafonia.
• 1847: Land is made available for sale or lease in the Falkland Islands. Ship repair trade in the islands is boosted by large number of ships rounding Cape Horn en route to the California Gold Rush.
• 1849: 30 married Chelsea Pensioners and their families arrive in the islands. Population in the islands reaches 200.
• 1850: Britain and Argentina sign the “Convention between Great Britain and the Argentine Confederation, for the Settlement of existing Differences and the re-establishment of Friendship”. Several historians (Argentine, British and Latin American) consider this has a negative impact upon Argentina's modern sovereignty claim.
• 1851: Falkland Islands Company is established by Royal Charter.
• 1852: Cheviot sheep are first introduced to the islands. Sheep farming later becomes the dominant agriculture on the islands.
• 1854: A defence force is formed on the islands in response to the Crimean War.
• 1859: Establishment of Darwin
• 1861: San Carlos Farm established.
• 1866: Establishment of Port Howard.
• 1875: Establishment of Goose Green.
• 1876: The last Warrah is killed at Shallow Bay.
• 1878: The first peat slide destroys several houses in Port Stanley.
• 1880s: The "forest" at Hill Cove is planted.
• 1881: The Falkland Islands became financially independent.
• 1884: Argentina request that the sovereignty dispute is submitted to independent arbitration, Britain refuses. The first mention of the Falkland Islands by Argentina for 34 years.
• 1886: Second peat slide destroys the exchange building and two women are killed.
• 1888: Argentina lodges a diplomatic protest with the UK, the matter is not raised again with the UK until 1941.
• 1892: Consecration of Christchurch Cathedral.
• 1899: St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church is consecrated.