The Falkland Islands () have a complex history stretching over five hundred years. Active exploration and colonisation began in the 18th century but a self-supporting colony was not established till the latter part of the 19th century. Nonetheless, the islands have been a matter of controversy, as due to their strategic position in the 18th century their sovereignty was claimed by the French, Spaniards, British and Argentines at various points.

The strategic importance of the Falkland Islands was negated by the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914. Nevertheless, the continued sovereignty dispute between the United Kingdom and Argentina led to the Falklands War in 1982.

15th century 1493: Pope Alexander VI issues a papal bull, the Inter caetera, that divides the New World between Spain and Portugal. 1494: Treaty of Tordesillas between Spain and Portugal agree the terms of the papal bull modifying the dividing line.

16th century

1504: Binot Paulmier de Gonneville (France) sights islands that may have been the Falklands. 1520: Possible first European sighting. It is attributed to Estevao Gómez, pilot of the ship San Antón, who may have reached the islands on his return voyage after deserting Magellan’s expedition, although there is no express mention in the diaries of his return to Spain; the original name would have been "San Antón Islands". 1522: Pedro Reinel (Portugal) Unrecorded Portuguese expedition may have sighted the Falkland Islands. Evidence is found in two early maps, one made by the Portuguese cartographer Pedro Reinel in about 1522, the very first map to show the Falklands. 1525: Pedro Vega (Spain) Captain of the Anunciada, part of Frey Garcia Jofre de Loaysa's expedition, possible sighting. 1529: Diogo Ribeiro (Portugal) produces a map indicating islands in the position of the Falklands. 1535: Simón de Alcazaba (Spain) sights islands that may have been the Falklands. 1540: Alonso de Camargo (Spain) shelters in islands that may have been the Falklands. In the 20th century, the noted maritime historian Felix Riesenberg reconstructed the voyage and concluded it was most likely . 1541: The "Sanson" islands are indicated on the Map XV del Islario (atlas) de Alonso de Santa Cruz in a position corresponding to the Falklands. 1543: Juan Bautista Agnese produces a nautical chart indicating the "Sanson" Islands in a position corresponding to the Falklands. 1562: A map showing the "Sanson" islands is produced. Original author may be either Diego Gutiérrez or Bartholome Olives. 1571: A map produced by Fernão Vaz Dourado (Portugal) shows islands in the correct position of the Falklands. 1577: The "Sanson" Islands are indicated on the Martinez nautical chart. 1580: The "Sanson" Islands are indicated on the Olives nautical chart. Possible circumnavigation by Sir Francis Drake. 1583: Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa (Spain) sights islands that may have been the Falklands. 1590: Islands are shown on contemporary Spanish and Italian charts. 1592: John Davis (England), member of the second English expedition of Cavendish, shelters among islands that may have been the Falklands. The Falklands motto Desire the right is in part based on Davis' ship Desire. 1593: Richard Hawkins (England) maps the northern coastline, naming the islands Hawkins Maydenlande after himself and Queen Elizabeth. Whether the islands were in fact the Falklands is disputed. 1600: Sebald de Weert (Netherlands) sights the islands. This is widely accredited as the first sighting of the islands.

17th century 1604: Treaty of London between Spain and England. Terms largely favourable to Spain set aside "what had been able to acquire previously to its signature".see Old Style and New Style dates: the date in brackets the Gregorian Calendar used in Spain but not in England or Scotland at that timeRatified by the King of Spain on and ratified on 5/15 June 1605 and by King James I on 19/29 August 1604Davenport, pp. 246– 257 1670: Treaty of Madrid. Spain recognised English possessions in the Caribbean Sea, and each country agreed to refrain from trading in the other's territory. 1675: Anthony de la Roché (England) discovers South Georgia.Capt. Francisco de Seixas y Lovera, Descripcion geographica, y derrotero de la region austral Magallanica. Que se dirige al Rey nuestro señor, gran monarca de España, y sus dominios en Europa, Emperador del Nuevo Mundo Americano, y Rey de los reynos de la Filipinas y Malucas, Madrid, Antonio de Zafra, 1690. (Narrates the discovery of South Georgia by the Englishman Anthony de la Roché in April 1675 (Capítulo IIII Título XIX page 27 or page 99 of pdf); Relevant fragment.) 1684: William DampierAntonio de Viedma, Diarios de navegación – expediciones por las costas y ríos patagónicos (1780–1783), Ediciones Continente reprint, Buenos Aires 2006, , with an introduction by Professor Pedro Pesatti, Universidad Nacional de Conahue, Argentina: and two prefaces of importance – Discurso preliminar al diario de Viedma, pp. 19–28, and Apuntes históricos de la Isla Pepys, pp. 33–36 with facsimile map, both authored by Pedro de Angelis, on 20 June 1839. De Angelis (b. Naples 1784, d. Buenos Aires 1859) was the historian who created the State Printing Service. He edited the collection of works and documents relative to the ancient and modern history of the provinces of the River Plate in six volumes (1835–1838). and Ambrose Cowley (England). Dampier publishes an accurate position for the islands but Cowley's account contains an inaccurate position North leading to the legend of Pepys Island.William Ambrosia Cowley. Cowley's Voyage Round the Globe, in Collection of Original Voyages, ed. William Hacke. London: James Knapton, 1699. https://web.archive.org/web/20180120160933/http://www.galapagos.to/TEXTS/COWLEY.HTM 1690: John Strong (England) landed, and named the sound and eventually the entire island group after Viscount Falkland, Admiralty Commissioner. 1696: Dampier returns to circumnavigate the islands.

18th century

1701: Gouin de Beauchesne (France) 1708: Woodes Rogers (Great Britain) 1713: Treaty of Utrecht between Spain, France, and Great Britain. Spain later claims this granted Spain sovereignty over the islands based on the Treaty of Tordesillas, a claim rejected by Great Britain. 1740: George Anson (Great Britain) 1749: Anson proposes an expedition to find Pepys Island and establish a base on the Falkland Islands. Expedition is abandoned following pressure from the Spanish but with Great Britain formally rejecting the Spanish claim. 1764: Louis de Bougainville (France) founded a naval base at Port Louis, East Falkland. The French named them the Îles Malouines, so-called from when the islands were briefly occupied by fishermen from St Malo. Many of the settlers were Acadians left homeless by the Great Expulsion in Nova Scotia. 1765: Ignorant of de Bougainville's presence, John Byron (Great Britain) claims Saunders Island and other islands for Britain. Britain builds a settlement on Saunders Island the following year. 1766: France and Spain reach agreement: French forces are to leave, and Spain agrees to pay for the installations built by de Bougainville. 1767: Fort St Louis is formally transferred to the Spanish Crown and renamed Puerto Soledad. Bougainville receives compensation for his efforts in establishing the colony. The first Spanish Governor, Don Felipe Ruiz Puente, is appointed. 1769: British and Spanish ships encounter one another whilst surveying the island. Each accuse the other of having no lawful reason for being in the islands. 1770: Falkland Crisis: Five Spanish ships arrive at Port Egmont with over 1400 troops under the command of General Madariaga. The British are forced to abandon Port Egmont and threaten war. 1771: That dispute was settled, with Spain retaining Puerto Soledad and Great Britain Port Egmont. Spain returns all goods and chattels seized and makes restitution. The Spanish later claim a secret agreement was reached whereby the British would leave the island; this is denied by the British and no documentary proof of the agreement has ever been produced. 1774: The British decide to evacuate many overseas settlements due to the economic pressures of the American War of Independence. The British garrison departs the islands but leaves behind a plaque asserting British dominion. 1775: Captain James Cook rediscovers South Georgia and takes formal possession on behalf of King George III, after whom the island is named. 1776: The Spanish garrison becomes part of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. 1780: Sealers occupying Port Egmont are evicted when it is destroyed by the Spanish to prevent the British from returning. 1790: Nootka Convention. Britain conceded Spanish sovereignty over all Spain's traditional territories in the Americas. Whether or not the islands were included is disputed.

19th century 1806: Spain recalls Governor Juan Crisostomo Martinez from the islands but leaves behind a plaque re-asserting Spanish dominion. 1807: Settlers on the Island face near-starvation after the British occupy Montevideo and enforce a blockade. 1811: The Spanish evacuate Puerto Soledad, the islands become the domain of sealers and whalers. 1813: Isabella under Captain Higton is wrecked on Eagle Island (now known as Speedwell Island). Six sailors undertake the hazardous voyage to the River Plate in an open longboat. The remaining crew are rescued by the American sealer Nanina under Captain Barnard. Whilst Barnard seeks additional supplies, the British crew seize Nanina and maroon the Americans. 1814: After being marooned for 18 months Barnard is rescued by the British whalers Asp and Indispensable. 1816: The United Provinces of South America, later called Argentina, claimed independence from Spain. 1819: The South Shetland Islands are discovered by Captain William Smith who claims possession for King George III. 1820: After an 8-month voyage, and with the ship in a poor state, the Argentine frigate, Heroína, puts into the islands in October. On 6 November Captain Jewett raises the flag and claims the islands for the United Provinces of the River Plate. 1821: South Orkney Islands are discovered by Captain George Powell who claims possession for King George IV. 1823: The United Provinces of the River Plate appoints Don Pablo Areguati as Commandant of Puerto Soledad. An appointment in name only as he never sets foot on the islands. 1824: Luis Vernet and his partner Pacheco attempt an expedition to the islands. The venture is a failure. 1825: The United Kingdom recognised Argentina's independence from Spain. 1826: Vernet's first attempt to establish a settlement. Expeditions fail due to Brazilian blockade and conditions encountered on the islands. 1828: Vernet's settlement established. 1829: Buenos Aires issues decree setting up "Political and Military command of the Malvinas". Britain protests. 1831: Vernet seizes three US vessels and imprisons their crews. The US sends the USS Lexington and arrests seven of Vernet's men. The Captain of the Lexington offers to take the settlers off the island. Most accept, however, 24 remain and continue working for Vernet. The US declares the islands free from Government. 1832: Argentina sends a garrison commanded by Major Esteban Mestivier. Mestivier is murdered following a mutiny. 1833: Britain re-establishes control of the islands. (See Re-establishment of British rule on the Falklands (1833).) William Dixon is named as the British representative and Matthew Brisbane returns to take over Vernet's settlement at Port Louis. Charles Darwin's first visit to the islands. In August, Antonio Rivero leads a gang of creoles and Gauchos who murder key members of the settlement. 1834: Installation of the first British resident, Lt Henry Smith. Smith arrests Rivero's gang, restores the settlement and renames it Ansons Harbour. Charles Darwin's second visit. 1838: Lt Lowcay replaces Lt Smith.