1504 – 1600 = Various possible sightings and mappings by Spanish, Portuguese, English, French and Dutch explorers. First possible sighting = French (Binot Paulmier de Gonneville, 1504). Sebald de Weert (Netherlands) was first to accurately plot them (1600).
1675 = South Georgia discovered by Anthony de la Roche (England).
1690 = John Strong (England) landed and named Islands after 5th Viscount Falkland, Admiralty Commissioner. First recorded landing.
1764 = Louis-Antoine de Bougainville (France) founded a naval base at Port Louis, East Falkland. French named them Îles Malouines, after fisherman from St. Malo who had briefly inhabited the islands.
1765 = Without knowing about the French naval base, John Byron (G.B.) claims Saunders Island (off West Falkland) and others for Britain.
1766 = Port Egmont founded on Saunders Island by British Captain John MacBride. French hand over claim of the islands to Spain.
1767 = Port Louis renamed Puerto Soledad.
1769 = British and Spanish ships encounter each other and accuse each other of being on the islands illegally.
1770 = Falklands Crisis: 5 Spanish ships with 1,400 troops arrive at Port Egmont and force the British to leave. Almost causes war.
1771 = Dispute settled, Spanish return Port Egmont to the British and give back all goods seized.
1774 = British leave the islands due to economic pressures of American War of Independence, leave behind a plaque asserting Britain’s claim to the islands.
1775 = James Cook rediscovers South Georgia and takes formal possession on behalf of King George III.
1776= Spanish garrison becomes part of Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata.
1780 = Sealers in Port Egmont are evicted, and it is destroyed by the Spanish to stop the British returning.
1806 = Spain recalls Governor from the islands, leaves behind a plaque asserting Spanish dominion.
1811 = The Spanish evacuate Puerto Soledad, the islands are left to sealers and whalers.
1816 = The United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata (later Argentina, containing Uruguay and Bolivia as well) achieves independence from Spain.
1820 = American-born Captain David Jewett of the Argentine frigate Heroina raises the flag and claims the islands for the United Provinces.
1823 = Buenos Aires gives German born merchant Luis Vernet permission to conduct fishing and farming on the islands.
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| Luis Vernet, who Argentina used to administer their short lived colony |
1824 = Vernet attempts expedition to the islands, fails.
1826= Vernet’s first attempt to establish a settlement, fails.
1828 = Vernet establishes settlement in Puerto Soledad ruins.
1829 = Buenos Aires names Vernet military and civil commander of the islands.
1831 = Vernet seizes three US vessels and imprisons their crews. The US sends the USS Lexington and arrests seven of Vernet's men, Vernet and rest remain. The US declares the islands free from Government.
1832 = Argentina sends a garrison – mutiny, captain murdered. Order restored.
1833 = British ships HMS Clio and HMS Tyne arrive and re-established control of the islands, peacefully ordering the Argentinians to leave, which they did (due to 80% of their forces on the islands being British mercenaries). The British allow the population to stay (despite modern Argentinian claims). Charles Darwin visits. Vernet’s deputy murdered.
1834 = First British resident Lt Henry Smith arrives.
1840 = Britain approves the formation of a colony on the islands.
1841= First British Governor appointed.
1843 = Work begins on new town of Port Stanley, South Georgia is place under the administration of the Falklands.
1845 = Stanley becomes capital.
1849 = Population reaches 200.
1875 = Establishment of Goose Green.
1884 = Argentina requests sovereignty be submitted to independent arbitration, Britain refuses. First Argentine mention of the islands in 34 years.
1914 = WW1, Battle of the Falkland Islands, British victory.
1945 = UN Charter: Article 1 = "The Purposes of the United Nations are ... to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of … self-determination of peoples."
1960 = UNGA Resolution 1514 (XV): "All peoples have the right to self-determination; by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development."
1962 = Britain transfers administration of the South Orkney Islands, South Shetland Islands and Graham Land from the Falklands to the British Antarctic Territory.
1965 = UN Resolution 2065 called upon Britain and Argentina to "proceed without delay with negotiations [...] with a view to finding a peaceful solution to the problem [...] bearing in mind [...] the interests of the population of the Falkland Islands (Las Islas Malvinas)."
1976 = Argentina establishes military base on Southern Thule, South Sandwich Islands.
1982 = Falklands War – Argentina invade, takes the islands. British task-force recaptures them.
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| Prince Andrew, who served as a Sea King pilot during the war, onboard HMS Invincible returning from the South Atlantic |
1985 = Falkland Islands government set up. Mount Pleasant Airfield opens. South Georgia becomes separate territory.
1986 = UN adopts an Argentine resolution calling for Britain to resume negotiations including sovereignty.
1990 = Britain and Argentina resume diplomatic relations.
1994 = Argentina enshrines claim to Falklands in its constitution.
2000 = British Antarctic Survey reopens base in South Georgia
2001 = British Military Garrison withdraw from South Georgia
2013 = Referendum held in the islands on whether on not they should remain a British Overseas Territory, 99.8% voted to remain British (Turnout = 92%). Argentina refuses to recognise the result.
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| Falkland Islanders celebrating the result of the 2013 sovereignty referendum |
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