Reassertion of British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (1833) Reassertion of British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (1833) In December 1832, two naval vessels were sent by the United Kingdom to re-assert British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (), after the United Provinces of the River Plate (part of which later became Argentina) ignored British diplomatic protests over the appointment of Luis Vernet as governor of the Falkland Islands and a dispute over fishing rights. In 1765, Captain John Byron explored Saunders Island, which lies 1.5 miles (2.5 km) off the coast of West Falkland. He named the harbour Port Egmont, and claimed this and other islands for Britain,
Falkland Islands status Supreme Court of the Falkland Islands. According to the 2012 census, a majority of those with Falkland Islands Status are British Citizens, with 11% coming from 58 other countries (including 18 Argentine nationals). Before the current Falkland Islands Constitution came into force on 1 January 2009, Falkland Islands Status was defined by the 1985 Constitution, under which a person was eligible for Falkland Islands Status if they were: Under section 22(5) of the current Falkland Islands Constitution, a person is entitled to Falkland Islands status if they are: Since 2007, all new applicants for Falkland Islands Status, if their application