The Falklands: How the Dispute Began (1690–1833) Part 1

In 1764 France established the first permanent settlement on the Falkland Islands. Within just a few years, Britain and Spain had also become involved, beginning a dispute that would continue for generations. France founded Port Louis on East Falkland, Britain established Port Egmont in the west, and Spain later took control of the former French settlement. In 1770, Spanish forces expelled the British from Port Egmont, bringing Britain and Spain close to war before the settlement was restored the following year. Britain withdrew its garrison in 1774 while Spain remained until 1811. After the collapse of Spanish authority in the region, the newly independent United Provinces of the Río de la Plata began asserting its own claim to the islands. This episode follows the story from the first permanent settlement in 1764 through the arrival of Luis Vernet, the USS Lexington raid, and Britain’s return in 1833, the point at which the modern Falklands sovereignty dispute really begins. #history #Falklands #FalklandIslands #Argentina #BritishHistory #SpanishEmpire #RoyalNavy #historydocumentary