Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic continental shelf consisting of two main islands, East Falkland and West Falkland, and a number of smaller islands. The Falkland Islands are located at {{coor dms|51|45|00|S|059|10|00|W|}}. The Falkland Islands are a largely self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom but are claimed by Argentina to be part of its national territory. Stanley, is the capital and largest city, on East Falkland.

History

Main article: History of the Falkland Islands

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The Falkland Islands were uninhabited when they were first discovered by European explorers. Disputed evidence exists of prior settlement by humans based on the existence of the Falkland Island fox, or Warrah on the islands. It is thought this fox was brought to the island by humans, although it may have reached the islands itself via a land bridge during the last ice age.

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The first European explorer credited with sighting the islands is Sebald de Weert, a Dutch sailor in 1600. Although several English and Spanish historians maintain their own explorers discovered the islands earlier, some older maps, particularly Dutch ones, used the name 'Sebald Islands' after the first credited explorer. However, the islands appear on numerous Spanish and other maps beginning in the 1520s. A British sailor sailed between the two principal islands in 1690, and called the passage "Falkland Channel" (now Falkland Sound), after Anthony Cary, 5th Viscount Falkland (1659-1694), who as Commissioner of the Admiralty had financed the expedition, and who later became First Lord of the Admiralty. From this body of water the island group later took its collective name.

Related Topics:
Sebald de Weert - 1600 - Falkland Sound - Anthony Cary, 5th Viscount Falkland

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The first settlement on the Falkland Islands was founded by France in 1764 at Port Louis, on Berkeley Sound. The French name Îles Malouines was given to the islands by early 18th century French mariners from the Breton port of Saint-Malo, "malouin" being the adjective derived from "Malo". The Spanish name Islas Malvinas is derived from the French name.

Related Topics:
France - 1764 - Port Louis - Saint-Malo

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In 1766 Britain settled West Falkland. Also in 1766 Spain acquired the French colony. Spain assumed effective control in 1767, and placed the islands under a governor subordinate to Buenos Aires. Spain ended the British presence on West Falkland in 1770, but Britain returned in 1771, remaining until 1774. Upon her withdrawal Britain left behind a plaque asserting her claims, but from then on Spain ruled unchallenged, maintaining a settlement until 1811.

Related Topics:
1766 - Britain - 1767 - Buenos Aires - 1770 - 1771 - 1774 - Plaque - 1811

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Argentina declared independence in 1816 and laid claim to the then uninhabited Malvinas. Actual occupation began in 1820, with the foundation of a settlement and a penal colony. The settlement was destroyed by the United States in 1831 following a dispute over fishing rights. Britain invaded the islands in 1833, expelled the remainder of the Argentine settlement, and began to populate the islands with its own citizens.

Related Topics:
Independence - 1816 - 1820 - United States - 1831 - Fishing - Invaded the islands in 1833

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The Royal Navy built a base at Stanley, and the islands became a strategic point for navigation around Cape Horn. The World War I naval battle, the Battle of Falkland Islands took place in December 1914, with a British victory over the Germans. During World War II, Stanley served as a Royal Navy station and serviced ships who took part in the Battle of the River Plate.

Related Topics:
Royal Navy - Stanley - Cape Horn - World War I - Battle of Falkland Islands - 1914 - World War II - Battle of the River Plate

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Sovereignty over the islands became an issue again in the latter half of the 20th century. Argentina, which never renounced its claim to the islands, used the newly formed United Nations as an avenue for pursuing its claims, and talks between the British and Argentine foreign missions took place in the 1960s. However the talks never came to any meaningful conclusion, and a major sticking point in any negotiations was the 2,000 inhabitants of mainly British descent who prefer that the islands remain a British colony.

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On April 2 1982, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands and other British territories in the South Atlantic (South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands), encouraged in part by the United Kingdom's reduction in military capacity in the South Atlantic, and as a diversion from poor economic performance at home. World reaction to the invasion ranged from support in the Latin American countries, to opposition in Europe, the Commonwealth, and eventually the United States. The British sent a large expedition force to retake the islands leading to the Falklands War. After a short but fierce naval and air war, the British landed at San Carlos Water on May 21 and a land war followed until the Argentinean forces surrendered on June 14.

Related Topics:
April 2 - 1982 - South Georgia - South Sandwich Islands - Falklands War - May 21 - June 14

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Following the war, the British increased their military presence on the islands, constructing RAF Mount Pleasant and increasing the military garrison. Falkland Islanders were also granted full British citizenship. Although the UK and Argentina since resumed diplomatic relations in 1989, no further negotiations on sovereignty have taken place.

Related Topics:
RAF Mount Pleasant - 1989

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