Port Egmont (Falkland Islands)
Coordinates: 51 ° 20 ′ S , 60 ° 12 ′ W
Port Egmont was the first British base in the Falkland Islands . It was located on Saunders Island in the natural harbor of Port Egmont .
history
In 1765, Commodore John Byron landed near Port Egmont on West Falkland and took possession of the archipelago in the name of the British Crown. A year later, Captain John McBride founded the first British settlement in Port Egmont . Four years later, in 1770, the Spaniards drove the British from Port Egmont during the Falklands Crisis , bringing both countries to the brink of war. After long negotiations between Great Britain, France and Spain an understanding was reached in 1771, as a result of which Port Egmont fell back to the British. For economic reasons and because of the outbreak of the American Revolution , the British withdrew in 1774, but did not give up their claim. Because of this, they left a flag and a lead badge. In 1780 the settlement was destroyed before the British returned to Port Egmont in 1832 . In the same year, Great Britain took possession of the entire archipelago.