The Falkland Islands Discovery - 1502

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We've delved into the Ultrapedia archives to see what history holds on the discovery of the Falkland Islands; there are many conflicting and biased reports.  Here we feature an excerpt from The Merchants Magazine and Commercial Review Volume 6 published in 1842 - reporting the islands were first discovered in 1502  by the Italian explorer Americus Vespucius while in the service of Portugal.

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The Falkland Islands Discovery - 1502

The merit of discovering these islands has been claimed by the Portuguese, the Spaniards, the Dutch, and the French. Americus Vespucius, in the journal of his voyage through the South Atlantic Ocean, made in 1502, while he was in the service of Portugal, says that he saw a rugged and uncultivated land beyond the 52d degree of south latitude; but under what meridian it is impossible to learn. The Spaniards assert that the islands were found by their earliest navigators in those seas, who called them, Islas de Leones; no direct proof of this assertion has been adduced, but it seems scarcely possible that they could have remained unseen by the people of that nation, during a whole century, in which so many of their squadrons were engaged in exploring the adjacent seas and coasts.

The first notice of the existence of the islands which can be considered as distinct, is contained in the account of the voyage of John Davis, the commander of one of the vessels in the English squadron sent to the Pacific under Cavendish in 1591, written by John Lane, one of the crew, and published at London by Hakluyt in 1600. The writer there states, that after in vain attempting to enter Magellan's Straits, they were on the 14th of August, [1592]

"driven in among certain isles never before discovered by any known relation, lying fifty leagues or better from the shore, east and northerly from the straits"

This description, though short, is sufficient to establish the fact, that Davis did, in [1592], see some of the northwesternmost of the Falkland Islands; and upon the evidence thus afforded, Great Britain founds her claim to the sovereignty of the whole archipelago.

The same islands were also no doubt seen, two years afterward, by the celebrated Sir Richard Hawkins; in the narrative of whose voyage, by John Ellis, it is stated that:

"on the 2nd of February, 1593-4, we fell in with the land of Terra Australis, in 50 degrees, 55 leagues off the straits of Magellan, east-northeast from the straits"

Sir Richard, believing himself to be the first who had seen this territory, gave to it the name of Hawkins Maiden-land; "for" as he says, "that it was discovered in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, my Sovereign Lady, and a maiden Queen, and at my cost, in perpetual memory of her chastity, and of my endeavours."  

This name, however, did not obtain general currency; and the islands were not destined to serve as monuments commemorating the chastity of Queen Elizabeth, or the perseverance and liberality of the dauntless searover.

The last navigator, by whom the discovery of these islands was supposed to have been made, was Sebaldus or Sibbald Van Weerdt, the commander of one of the five Dutch ships sent to the Pacific from Rotterdam in [1599], under Jacob Mahu. Having been foiled in his attempt to pass Magellans Strait, Van Weerdt resolved to return to Europe; and on his way back, two days after leaving that passage, he fell in with three small islands, in the latitude of 50 degrees 40 minutes, distant sixty leagues from the South American continent; which were, in all probability, the same seen by Davis and Hawkins. The Dutch, in consequence, gave the name of Sebaldine Islands to the whole archipelago; which is so called on many English maps, published in the last century, while in others it appears as the Sibble d'Wards Islands.

Excerpt from The Merchants Magazine and Commercial Review Volume 6 published in 1842

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Further Reading and External Links

BBC News Magazine on the Falkland Islands 

World Atlas Falkland Islands Facts 

Americus Vespucius

Falkland Islands Discovery - 1594

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With the Falkland Island a newsworthy topic once more we've delved into the Ultrapedia archives to see what history holds.  Below is an excerpt from the book History of the British Colonies by Robert Montgomery Martin published in 1835 claiming they were first discovered in 1594 by Sir Richard Hawkins.

Catch-up with earlier posts in this series here or search our library here.

The Falkland Islands Discovery - 1594

THE Falkland islands, between the parallels of 51.10. and 52.30.S and the meridians 58. and 62. W. (contiguous to the Straits of Magellan,) so advantageously situated as a refreshing port for our numerous ships doubling Cape Horn, and as a cruising station for our ships of war in the Pacific, were first discovered by Sir Richard Hawkins during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, in the year 1594, or as some think, by Captain Davis, in 1592, an English navigator under Sir Thomas Cavendish; they were subsequently visited by a ship belonging to St. Maloes, from which they were called by the French, 'the Malouins' and also subsequently, by the Spaniards, 'the Malvinas.' Little, however, was known of them until Commodore Byron, when on a voyage of discovery to the South Seas, visited them in January, [1765], and formally took possession of them for his Majesty Geo. III. under the title of 'the Falkland Islands,' though others say this name had been previously given them by an English navigator named Strong, in 1689, who, after being there about fourteen days, described Egmont, on the N.W. coast of the largest island, as being the finest harbour in the world, capacious enough to hold all the navy of England in full security. Geese, ducks, snipes, and other fowl were found in such abundance, that the sailors were quite tired with eating them; and in every part there was a plentiful supply of water.

When the French lost the Canadas, a colony of farmers was transported thither by M. de Bougainville, and about the same time a British colony was established at Port Egmont by Captain McBride; but their right to settle there being disputed by the Spaniards, M. de Bougainville surrendered the possession of his part to the latter in April, [1767].

Great Britain, however, by virtue of her original discovery, claimed the sovereignty, which led to a rupture with Spain in the year [1770], and the point was warmly and strongly contested for a considerable period.

Spain, however, finally conceded our right to the islands. The two largest of the islands are about 70 leagues in circumference, and divided by a channel 12 leagues in length, and from 1 to 3 in breadth. The harbours are large, and well defended by small islands, most happily disposed. The smallest vessels may ride in safety; fresh water is easily to be obtained; there is seldom any thunder or lightning, nor is the weather hot or cold to any extraordinary degree. throughout the year, the nights are in general serene and fair; and, upon the whole, the climate is favourable to the constitution. The depth of the soil in the vallies is more than sufficient for the purpose of ploughing.

Since, [1767], they fell into comparative insignificance; and, for many years past, little notice has been taken of them by our government. Ships of war, on their passage round Cape Horn, have occasionally touched there for supplies of water, etc. and South Sea whalers and other merchant vessels; but the navigation being little known, they have not, until lately, been much frequented, although very nearly in the track of ships homeward-bound from the Pacific. Latterly, however, circumstances arose which induced the last commander-in-chief on the South American station (Sir Thomas Baker), to send down a ship of war for the purpose of reclaiming that possession, which lapse of time seemed to have rendered almost absolutely abandoned. The Buenos Ayrean Government have, however, endeavoured to set up a claim to the islands.

Excerpt from History of the British Colonies by Robert Montgomery Martin published in 1835

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Further Reading and External Links

BBC News Magazine on the Falkland Islands 

World Atlas Falkland Islands Facts

Falkland Islands Discovery - 1592

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With the Falkland Islands in the news again we thought we'd delve into the Ultrapedia archives to see what history holds.  Below is an excerpt from a parliamentary speech made in 1770 on the Falkland Islands claiming they were first discovered in 1592 by the British Captain Davies.

Excerpt from The Speeches of the Right Honourable the Earl of Chatham in the Houses of Lords and Commons by William Pitt published in 1848

THE DUKE OF RICHMOND'S MOTION RESPECTING THE SEIZURE OF FALKLAND'S ISLAND - 22nd November 1770

Badge of The Falkland IslandsThe expulsion of the English from the Falkland Islands by a Spanish force in the year [1769], caused serious apprehensions to be entertained of a rupture between Spain and Great Britain.

The Falkland Islands are situated in about 51 and a half degrees of southern latitude, and about one hundred leagues from the eastern entrance to the Straits of Magellan. They consist of two large, and a great number of small islands; the large ones being divided by a sound or strait of considerable length. They are supposed to have been first discovered in the year 1592, by Captain Davies, who was the associate of the brave but unfortunate Cavendish, and was afterwards parted from him, or basely deserted him. In consequence of stress of weather, Davies was prevented from making any observation on them, nor did he even name them. This was reserved for Sir Richard Hawkins, who two years afterwards discovered them, and called them, in honour of Queen Elizabeth, Hawkins' Maiden Land. No settlement being made on them, when the Dutch navigator, Sebald de Wert, touched at them in the year 1598, he imagined himself to be the first discoverer of them, and designated them the Sebaldine Islands. We hear nothing more of these islands until the reign of William the Third, when one Strong fell in with them, and is supposed to have given them their present English name, which being also adopted by Halley, was inserted in our maps.

Lord Anson was the first who was impressed with the importance of forming a British settlement on the Falkland Islands; and accordingly, soon after the peace of Aix la Chapelle, when he was at the head of the Admiralty, preparations were made for sending out some frigates to make discoveries in the South Seas, and particularly to examine, with precision, the state and condition of the islands in question. But the Court of Spain gained intelligence of this project, and made such representations against it, that it was for the time laid aside, and continued dormant until the conduct of naval affairs was entrusted to the Earl of Egmont. Under the directions of this nobleman, Commodore Byron was sent out, in the year [1764], to make a settlement on the Falkland Islands, and in the beginning of the following year he took formal possession of them in the name of the King of Great Britain. About the same, or perhaps at an earlier period, the French, animated by a desire to retrieve the great national losses which they had sustained during the late war, formed a plan of making discoveries in the South Seas. The low state of their finances prevented this scheme from being undertaken at the public expense; and it was left to the enterprise of a private individual M. de Bouganville, to carry it out at his own and his friends risk. He fitted out an expedition at St. Malo, whence these islands were called by the French Les Malouines, and having arrived at them, he formed a settlement which he designated Port Louis, and built a fort. The British settlement, which was called Port Egmont, in honour of the first Lord of the Admiralty, under whose auspices it was made, lay on the larger and more western of the two principal islands; and the French settlement on the eastern and lesser of them. The King of Spain asserting an exclusive right to all the Magellanic regions, procured a cession of the French settlement, and changed its name from Port Louis to that of Port Solidad.

In the year [1769], Captain Hunt, the commander of a frigate, which with the Swift, a sloop of sixteen guns, was stationed at Port Egmont, being on a cruise off the islands observed a Spanish schooner taking a survey of them.  Captain Hunt immediately sent a message to the Spanish commander, requiring him to depart. This requisition was for the time complied with, but two days afterwards the schooner returned with letters for Captain Hunt from the Governor of Port Solidad, complaining that the former had sent an imperious message to the Spaniards in the King of Spain's own dominions. In reply, Captain Hunt warned the Spaniards from the island in the name of the King, as belonging to the English by right of discovery in the first instance, and of settlement in the second.

Excerpt from The Speeches of the Right Honourable the Earl of Chatham in the Houses of Lords and Commons by William Pitt published in 1848

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Further Reading and External Links

Charles Lennox - 3rd Duke of Richmond

William Pitt The Elder - 1st Earl of Chatham 

BBC News Magazine on the Falkland Islands