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 6 7 8 9,400 soldiers forcing the British to http://www-x.phys.se.tmu.ac.jp/cx-tes/index.php?timmsheppard567766