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 4,400 soldiers forcing the British to leave Port Egmont. https://blogs.cornell.edu/advancedrevenuemanagement12/2012/03/28/department-store-industry/comment-page-9258/