Falklands history: 1833 - 1853

1833

January: Captain Onslow arrived in HMS Clio to retake possession of the Islands. HMS Tyne followed. William Dickson, senior British resident, put in charge of the British flag. The personnel from the Provinces of Buenos Aires where invited to leave, with any other settler who wished to leave. The settlement is re-named Port Louis.

April: Matthew Brisbane returned to re-establish the settlement.

August: Gauchos led by Antonio Rivero murdered Brisbane, Dickson and two others. The surviving settlers (13 men, 3 women and 2 children) took refuge on a small island in Berkeley Sound.

October: Lt. Rea arrived on sealer 'Hopeful' and provided temporary relief.

1834

January: HMS Challenger arrived accompanied by Hopeful. Lt. Henry Smith, First Officer of 'Challenger', with a boat crew left in charge of settlement.

March: Rivero and gauchos arrested, taken to Rio and then onto England, but as there was no trial they were all returned to Montevideo by the Admiralty.

There has been continuous, effective and peaceful possession, occupation and administration by Britain of the Falkland Islands from 1834 until 1982.

1845

It became apparent that the need of a new capital with a better natural harbour was a necessity. After some careful examinations and reports on various sites for a new capital, the site which is now Stanley, was chosen. Stanley, named after Lord Stanley, comprised 24 turf houses and about 100 inhabitants, most of them sealers and whalers.

1853

Republic of Argentina established.