History of the Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands were uninhabited when discovered by Europeans, but the recent discovery of the remains of a wooden canoe is strong evidence that they had previously been visited, most probably by the Yaghan people of Tierra del Fuego. It has also been suggested that the Falkland Island foxes, or warrahs, found on the island were introduced by the Yaghans, bearing as they did a resemblance to the culpeo or Fuegian fox.

Related Topics:
Falkland Islands - Canoe - Yaghan - Tierra del Fuego - Falkland Island fox - Culpeo

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An archipelago in the region of the Falkland Islands appeared on maps from the early 16th century, suggesting they may have been sighted by Ferdinand Magellan or another expedition of the 1500s. Amerigo Vespucci is believed to have sighted the islands in 1502, but did not name them. In 1519 or 1520, Esteban Gómez of the "San Antonio", one of the captains in the expedition of Magellan, deserted this enterprise and encountered several islands, which members of his crew called "Islas de Sansón y de los Patos" ("Islands of Samson and the Ducks"). Although these islands were probably the Jason Islands, a group northwest of West Falkland, the names "Islas de Sansón" (or "San Antón," "San Son," and "Ascensión") were used for the Falklands on Spanish maps during this period.

Related Topics:
16th century - Ferdinand Magellan - 1500s - Amerigo Vespucci - 1502 - 1519 - 1520 - Esteban Gómez - Jason Islands

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When John Davis, commander of the "Desire", one of the ships belonging to Thomas Cavendish's second expedition to the New World, separated from Cavendish off the coast of what is now southern Argentina, he decided to make for the Strait of Magellan in order to find Cavendish. On August 9 1592 a severe storm battered his ship, and Davis drifted under bare masts, taking refuge "among certain Isles never before discovered." Consequently, for a time the Falklands were known as "Davis Land" or "Davis' Land."

Related Topics:
John Davis - Thomas Cavendish - Argentina - Strait of Magellan - August 9 - 1592

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In 1594, they were visited by Richard Hawkins, who, combining his own name with that of Queen Elizabeth I, the "Virgin Queen," gave the islands the name of "Hawkins' Maidenland."

Related Topics:
1594 - Richard Hawkins - Queen Elizabeth I, the "Virgin Queen,"

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In 1598, Sebald de Weert, a Dutchman, visited them and called them the Sebald Islands (in Spanish, "Islas Sebaldinas" or "Sebaldes"), a name which they bore on some Dutch maps into the 19th century.

Related Topics:
1598 - Sebald de Weert

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Captain John Strong 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:
John Strong - 1690 - Falkland Sound - Anthony Cary, 5th Viscount Falkland - 1659 - 1694

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