The Islands were uninhabited when discovered by Europeans. France established a colony on the islands in 1764. In 1765, a British captain claimed the islands for Britain. In early 1770 a Spanish commander arrived from Buenos Aires with five ships and 5,400 soldiers forcing the British to leave Port Egmont. https://www.maanation.com/post/667463_https-foliemolie-nl-https-nl-wikipedia-org-wiki-kwaliteit-komt-er-verdere-bij-ki.html