Acadian History: The Exile: Falkland Islands

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Exile Destination: Falkland Islands

In 1763, Louis Antoine de Bougainville received permission to colonize the Falkland Islands. Although King Louis XV allowed the Acadians to participate (and still receive their “welfare” payments), there were not really interested in the proposition. When the first two ships (the Aigle and the Sphinx) set sail for the Falklands, there were only nine Acadians on board. The ships arrived in the spring of 1764, and Louis named the islands Malouines (in honor of St. Malo and the king). When the Guiana colony failed, the Acadians gained more interest in the Malouines colony (which seemed to be succeeding).
Bougainville returned to France and found 80 Acadians from around St. Malo ready to make the trip. They arrived at Malouines in April 1765. Another group of 79 colonists (mostly Acadians) arrived the following year. It wasn’t long before England and Spain took an interest in the colony and tried to establish ownership. After negotiations, Bougainville transfered the colony to Spain on April 1, 1767. About 95 colonists decided to stay at the colony. The rest set sail for Montevideo, Uruguay. It is not known if they eventually made it back to France. Of those remaining at the colony, it seems the population gradually decreased. It is thought that some of those who had remained eventually made their way back to France. Official French correspondence indicates that at least three groups of Acadians made their way back to France from the south Atlantic (in July 1769, June 1771, and May 1775). It is possible, though not known, that some Acadians stayed behind in Montevideo and the Falklands to leave descendants.

The 1755 Exile The 1758 Exile The "End" of the Exile	Exile Destinations
	England \| Quebec \| New Brunswick \| Prince Edward Island \| Nova Scotia \| France St. Domingue \| Martinique \| French Guiana \| Falkland Islands \| St. Pierre & Miquelon \| Louisiana American Colonies: Connecticut \| Georgia \| Maryland \| Massachusetts \| New York \| Pennsylvania \| South Carolina

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