Minor French Dependencies

24 Jan 1521                Fernão de Magalhães (Ferdinand Magellan) discovers the island,
                             according to some (identifying Clipperton with Magellan's San
                             Pablo), others say it was Álvaro de Saavedra Cerón in 1527.
15 Nov 1527                Reportedly discovered by Spanish Capt. Álvaro de Saavedra Cerón
                             (d. 1529) which he names Isla Médanos. Early maps regularly depict
                             one or more islands at Clipperton's approximate location, notably
                             an Isla de Médanos ("Island of Dunes").
1705                       English pirate John Clipperton (b. c.1676 - d. 1722), who led a
                             mutiny against William Dampier in Sep 1704, supposedly makes the
                             island his base; although this is historically as uncertain as the
                             16th century claims, the island ultimately takes its dominant
                             name from him.
 3 Apr 1711               The atoll is sighted on Good Friday by French navigators Martin de
                            Chassiron (b. 1674 - d. 1722) and Michel-Joseph Dubocage (b. 1676
                             - d. 1727), aboard the La Princesse and La Découverte, who name
                             it Île de la Passion.
1753                       Island appears as Ile de la Passion on the reduced map of the South
                             Sea drawn by Frenchman Jacques-Nicolas Bellin.
17 Aug 1825                American Capt. Benjamin Morrell (b. 1795 - d. 1839) of the Wasp
                             visits the island, and a party apparently goes ashore, perhaps
                             the first persons to do so.
 8 May 1839                British Capt. Edward Belcher (b. 1799 - d. 1877) surveys Clipperton.
17 Nov 1858                The island is formally claimed by a French navy lieutenant, Victor
                             Édouard Le Coat de Kerveguen (b. 1816 - d. 1871), aboard the
                             Amiral. Although he fails to leave any symbol of French
                             sovereignty on the island, he does report his action to the French
                             consulate in Honolulu, which makes a like communication to the
                             Hawaiian government (Île de Clipperton).
30 Jul 1892                Under the Guano Islands Act passed by the U.S. in 1856, Capt.
                             Frederick W. Permien (b. 1823 - d. 1904) claims possession of
                             Clipperton for the Stoningham Phosphate Company. He claims to have
                             sighted the island on 21 May 1881, gone ashore on 30 Jun 1892, to
                             collect guano samples, and hoisted the U.S. flag on 4 Jul. The
                             U.S. authorities take no action on the application, However in
                             1893, Permien transferred his claim to the Oceanic Phosphate
                             Company.
25 May 1893 - Oct 1893     Charles Jensen and "Brick" Thurman of the Oceanic Phosphate Company
                             were left on the island to prevent other attempts to claim the
                             island and its guano.
 1 May 1897 - 27 Jun 1897  British cargo vessel Kinkora and crew are wrecked on Clipperton.
 2 Aug 1897                A new three-man work crew and four guests representing the Pacific
                             Islands Company of London arrive in the Navarro. Governor George
                             D. Freeth of the Oceanic Phosphate Company supervises the planting
                             of coconut trees. The guests leave with the ship on 5 Aug and it
                             is soon reported that the Pacific Islands Company intends to
                             acquire the island. In Oct 1897 the Pacific Islands Company
                             acquires the interests of Oceanic Phosphate.
24 Nov 1897                The French cruiser Duguay-Touin confirms reports that the U.S. flag
                             is flying over the island. France subsequently instructs its
                             ambassador in Washington to assert title to the atoll and the U.S.
                             replies 6 Jan 1898 that it is making no claim of sovereignty.
12 Dec 1897                The Mexican gunboat Demócrata arrives at the island. The following
                             day a group of marines go ashore, take off the Americans, and
                             raise the Mexican flag (Isla de la Pasión).
Feb 1898                   Pacific Islands Company received a concession from Mexico for an
                             undisclosed cash consideration aside from royalties of 75 cent
                             per ton of product exported.
May 1898                   Mexican President Porfirio Díaz appoints Freeth as "interim
                             government inspector" on Clipperton. Freeth resigns on 30 Oct 1898
                             and upon his recommendation Díaz appoints Benjamin Edward Holman
                             as replacement.
16 Jun 1898                The French chargé d'affaires in Mexico City conveys to Mexican
                             foreign minister Ignacio Mariscal his government's deep concern
                             over the Mexican seizure of the island. In a response dated
                             30 Sep 1898, Mariscal dismisses the French claim.
1901                       The Pacific Phosphate Company is registered to take over from the
                             Pacific Islands Company.
Sep 1906                   Col. Abelardo Avalos arrives as prefect. His troops later place a
                             maritime beacon atop the Rock.
1908                       Mexico garrisons the island. Capt. Ramón Arnaud appointed governor.
20 Oct 1908                As Clipperton Island attains new importance with the prospective
                             opening of the Panama Canal, the French government proposes to
                             that of Mexico that King Vittorio Emanuele III of Italy be named
                             as arbitrator of the rival claims of these two countries to the
                             ownership of the island. An accord to that effect is signed on
                             2 Mar 1909. Mexico submits its brief to the king late in the year,
                             France following in 1912.
1910                       Pacific Phosphate, its operations long unprofitable, withdraws its
                             work force, save for a lone caretaker, Gustav Schulz.
28 Feb 1914                The U.S. schooner Nokomis crashes into the reef. Due to the Mexican
                             revolution (the gunboat Tampico, which called regularly at the
                             island, having been taken over on 24 Feb by revolutionaries
                             fighting to overthrow President Victoriano Huerta), the Mexican
                             garrison is no longer supplied.
26 Jun 1914                The cruiser Cleveland arrives at Clipperton and takes off the
                             Nokomis castaways as well as Schulz and his family.
End of May 1915            Capt. Arnaud spots a ship off the coast and, with Lt. Secundino
                             Cardona, decides to launch a boat and compel all the men to row
                             him out to the ship to ask for help, the boat overturned and they
                             disappeared into the ocean. This leaves only Victoriano Álvarez,
                             the lighthouse keeper who was living apart from the community, and
                             15 women and children. The only man on the island, Álvarez
                             proclaims himself "King of Clipperton," and for more than two
                             years of tyrannical rule he abuses his subjects and kills two of
                             them.
18 Jul 1917                Two women, Alicia Rovira de Arnaud and Tirza Randon, strike Álvarez
                             dead. The same day the U.S. ship Yorktown comes to check that
                             Clipperton is not harboring a German submarine base. It discovers
                             three women, an adolescent girl, and seven surviving children.
                             They are taken on the ship (which arrives at Salina Cruz, Oaxaca,
                             on 22 Jul) and the island is left uninhabited.
28 Jan 1931                King Vittorio Emanuele III of Italy arbitrates the conflicting
                             claims in favor of France, finding that the island was terra
                             nullius in 1858 and legitimately acquired by France. (Mexico
                             definitively recognized French sovereignty in 1959).
17 Jul 1934                U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt visits Clipperton Island on
                             fishing cruises aboard the USS Houston.
26 Jan 1935                France takes possession by the training cruiser Jeanne d'Arc.
12 Jun 1936 - 21 Feb 2007  Under the jurisdiction of the French Establishments of Oceania
                             and then from 1957 French Polynesia.
21 Jul 1938                U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt visits Clipperton Island a
                             second time purposely (taking with him a naturalist, Waldo L.
                             Schmitt, who collects specimens of plants and animals for the
                             Smithsonian Institution).
1940                       France awards "exclusive and exceptional rights" on the atoll to
                             Charles Michelson (a stateless person of Romanian origin, who has
                             been involved with projects to establish wireless stations
                             throughout the French empire since 1936), lasting for "30 years
                             after the conclusion of the present war." U.S. Navy secretary
                             Frank Knox writes Michelson on 4 Mar 1942, thanking him for his
                             generous action in putting the rights of the island to the
                             disposal of the U.S. Navy.
14-17 Sep 1943             A secret expedition led by Adm. Richard E. Byrd (b. 1888 - d. 1957)
                             surveys Clipperton as a potential air base site.
11 Dec 1944 - 21 Oct 1945  Occupied by U.S. Navy during the "Island X" secret operation, a
                             weather station is completed on 13 Jan 1945.
22 Jan 1945                The U.S. disallows a French visit to the island and France protests
                             about the U.S. occupation without previous notification.
19 May 1947 - 29 Jun 1947  Capt. William Noble and crew of fishing boat Thistle from San Pedro,
                             California are stranded on the island.
1951 - 1957                French naval ships make several calls on the island to cement the
                             French claim, with bronze plaques fastened to the Rock's face and
                             to palm trees: Le Commandant Charcot (23 Apr 1951), Jeanne d'Arc
                             (11 Feb 1952), La Moqueuse (6 Aug 1952), Le Dumont-d'Urville (23
                             Aug  1957).
 7 Aug 1958 - 25 Sep 1958  The Scripps Institution undertakes a scientific expedition during
                             the International Geophysical Year.
1966 - 1969                "Bougainville" expeditions of the French army visit the island.
 2 Feb 1979                A ministerial decree is gazetted by which the courts of the judicial
                             order seated in Paris are assigned jurisdiction over the island.
1980                       A marine expedition under Jacques Cousteau (b. 1910 - d. 1997)(who
                             was at the island before) visits and a documentary is filmed
                             ("Clipperton: The Island Time Forgot").
1983                       An exclusive economic zone (EEZ) with a radius of 200 nautical miles
                             is created around the island.
20 Mar 1986                Clipperton becomes a domaine public de l'État (State-owned public
                             domain).
1987                       France announces that a fishing base is to be established on the
                             island. Work begins in 1988.
2000                       The tuna vessel Lily Mary is grounded on the northeast coast of the
                             atoll.
Dec 2004 - Apr 2005        A French scientific expedition to the island is led by Jean-Louis
                             Étienne (b. 1946).
c.2005                     The Costa Rican trawler Oco runs aground southwest of the Rock.
21 Feb 2007                France assumes direct administration of the dependency, placing it
                             under the authority of the minister of overseas France.
14-29 Apr 2015             An international expedition visits Clipperton.
15 Nov 2016                A biotope protection order is issued, creating a Marine Protected
                             Area within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea around the
                             island.
22 Feb 2022                A French law provides that "the island of Clipperton may also be
                             referred to as "Île de la Passion-Clipperton.

Mexican Government Inspectors on Clipperton 
May 1898 - 30 Oct 1898     George Douglas Freeth (interim)
 7 Nov 1898 - ....         Benjamin Edward Holman
Mexican Governor
1908 - May 1915            Ramón Arnaud                    (b. 1879 - d. 1915)
                             (= Ramón Nonato Arnaud Vignon)
May 1915 - 18 Jul 1917     Victoriano Álvarez              (b. 18.. - d. 1917)
                             (self-declared "king")
U.S. Military Commander
22 Dec 1944 - 23 Oct 1945  George Lowry                    (b. 1889 - d. 1981)

Bassas da India
 

Map of Basas da India

Population: Uninhabitable

1506                       The Portuguese ship São Cristóvão, nicknamed A Judia ("The Jewess"),
                             wrecks on the atoll that gets the name Baixos da Judia ("Banks of
                             the Jewess"), which from errors in map-copying becomes Bassas
                             da India ("Banks of India").
1825                       Named the Bassas da India in a map by British Admiral William Owen
                             (b. 1774 - d. 1857).
 8 Aug 1896                Claimed by France as part of French Madagascar colony.
31 Oct 1897                Formally annexed to France, part of French Madagascar colony.
14 Jun 1960                French possession; administered by the High Commissioner 
                             for Reunion (from 19 Sep 1960)(by décret no 60-555 1 Apr 1960).
1973                       Madagascar claims sovereignty over the Îles Éparses.
 3 Jan 2005                Administrative control of the Îles Éparses is transferred from the
                             prefect of Réunion to the administrator-superior of the French
                             Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF).
21 Feb 2007                Incorporated into the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

Territorial Dispute: Claimed as Nosy Bedimaky by Madagascar.

Banc du Geyser (Geysir)

c.1650                     Shown on Spanish maps as Arecife de Santo António.
23 Dec 1678                Named Geysir Reef, when the English vessel Geysir, ran aground
                             on the reef.
 8 Aug 1896                Banc du Geyser, a drying reef in the Mozambique Channel,
                             claimed by France as part of French Madagascar colony.
14 Jun 1960                French possession; administered by the High Commissioner 
                             for Reunion (from 19 Sep 1960)(by décret no 60-555 1 Apr 1960).
1976                       Madagascar announced the annexation of the reef (no effect).
 3 Jan 2005                Administrative control of the Îles Éparses is transferred from the
                             prefect of Réunion to the administrator-superior of the French
                             Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF).
21 Feb 2007                Îles Éparses are incorporated into the French Southern and Antarctic
                             Lands.
22 Feb 2012                Included within the Glorioso Islands Marine Natural Park.

Territorial Dispute: the vegetated drying cays of Banc du Geyser, which were claimed by Madagascar in 1976, also fall within the EEZ claims of the Comoros and France (Glorioso Islands).

24 Dec 1774                Visited by the British ship Europa.
1825                       Named Europa Island in a map by British Admiral William Owen
                             (b. 1774 - d. 1857).
c.1860                     Frenchman named de Rosiers came to settle the island from
                             Madagascar (length of his stay is unknown).
 8 Aug 1896                Claimed by France as part of French Madagascar colony.
31 Oct 1897                Formally annexed to France, part of French Madagascar colony.
1903                       Presence of a small colony is attested.
c.1910                     Two couples whose men were said to have been Seychellois and three
                             Malagasy employees live on the island.
12 Jan 1950                First meteorological mission landed under the leadership of Serge
                             Frolow (b. 1903 - d. 1959).
14 Jun 1960                French possession administered by the High Commissioner 
                             for Reunion (from 19 Sep 1960)(by décret no 60-555 1 Apr 1960).
1973                       France begins garrisoning the island.
1973                       Madagascar claims sovereignty over the Îles Éparses.
 3 Jan 2005                Administrative control of the Îles Éparses is transferred from the
                             prefect of Réunion to the administrator-superior of the French
                             Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF).
21 Feb 2007                Incorporated into the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

Territorial Dispute: Claimed as Nosy Ampela by Madagascar.

1878                       Hippolyte Caltaux encounters a group of unknown islands he names
                             Îles Glorieuses (in remembrance of the French revolution of 1830
                             ["the Three Glorious Days"]).
 2 Mar 1880                Hippolyte Caltaux plants the French flag there and settles on the
                             island, encountering in subsequent years difficulties with the
                             commanders of British ships that pass near the islands.
23 Aug 1892                France takes possession of the Îles Glorieuses. Caltaux remains
                             there until 1907; although he tried to sell his rights to the
                             islands, a decree of forfeiture is issued against him and they
                             are granted as a concession to the Société des Îles Malgaches
                             (Malagasy Islands Company).
1895 - 1912                They are administratively attached to Mayotte.
1907                       French government ends the concession of Caltaux.
1907 - 1939                Islands entrusted to the Compagnie des Îles Malgaches.
1912 - 1960                The Îles Glorieuses are administratively attached to Madagascar.
May 1945 - 1958            Returned to the Compagnie des Îles Malgaches.
1950                       France begins garrisoning the island.
1959                       Permanent meteorological station established.
14 Jun 1960                French possession administered by the High Commissioner 
                             for Reunion (from 19 Sep 1960)(by décret no 60-555 1 Apr 1960).
1973                       Madagascar claims sovereignty over the Îles Éparses.
18 Nov 1975                Declared a wildlife reservation.
18 Jul 1980                The president of the Comoros expresses claims to Îles Glorieuses.
 3 Jan 2005                Administrative control of the Îles Éparses is transferred from the
                             prefect of Réunion to the administrator-superior of the French
                             Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF).
21 Feb 2007                Incorporated into the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.
22 Feb 2012                Glorioso Islands Marine Natural Park (Parc naturel marin des
                             Glorieuses), including Banc du Geyser, established.
23 Oct 2019                President Emmanuel Macron pays a visit to Grande Glorieuse, the
                             first French president to do so. He announces that the Glorieuses
                             marine reserve will become a national nature reserve.
 8 Jun 2021                Marine park re-designated National Nature Reserve of the Glorieuses
                             Archipelago (Réserve naturelle nationale de l'archipel des
                             Glorieuses).

Proprietor (from 1892, Warden)
 2 Mar 1880 - 1907         Hippolyte Caltaux                 (b. 1847 - d. af.1927) 

Territorial Disputes: Claimed by the Comoros (1980), Madagascar (1973) as Nosy Sambatra.

1501                       Portuguese Capt. João da Nova (or Juan de Nova)(b. 1460 - d. 1509)
                             came across the uninhabited island which he called the Galega or
                             Agalega (Galician). It is later called Johan de Nova (Pilestrima,
                             1519), Joa de Nova (Mercator, 1569), San-Christophoro (Ortelius,
                             1570), and Saint-Christophe (Lislet Geoffroy).
1825                       Named Juan de Nova Island in a map by British Admiral William Owen
                             (b. 1774 - d. 1857).
 8 Aug 1896                Claimed by France (Île Juan de Nova) as part of French Madagascar.
31 Oct 1897                Formally annexed to France, part of French Madagascar colony.
c.1900 - c.1940            Island is rented to a French firm for a 20-year lease to extract
                             guano (phosphates) and coconuts.
14 Jun 1960                French possession administered by the High Commissioner 
                             for Reunion (from 19 Sep 1960)(by décret no 60-555 1 Apr 1960).
10 Mar 1952 - 1968         Leased by France to Société française des îles Malgaches (SOFIM)
                             to extract phosphate for a period of 15 years (reappointed for
                             25 years on 15 Jun 1960).
1963                       Installation of auxiliary meteorological station named la Goulette.
1973                       Madagascar claims sovereignty over the Îles Éparses.
1974                       France begins garrisoning the island.
 3 Jan 2005                Administrative control of the Îles Éparses is transferred from the
                             prefect of Réunion to the administrator-superior of the French
                             Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF).
21 Feb 2007                Incorporated into the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

Territorial Dispute: Claimed as Nosy Kely by Madagascar.

Aug 1722                   Discovered by the French ship of the Compagnie française des Indes
                             orientales, the La Diane, commanded by Jean Marie Briand de la
                             Feuillée (b. 1685 - d. 1739) and named Île de Sable
                             (Isle of Sand).
31 Jul 1761                French transport L'Utile, of the Compagnie française des Indes
                             orientales, wrecks on the island with 80 slaves left on it. All
                             die except seven women, who live chiefly on shellfish and brackish
                             water for 15 years.
29 Nov 1776                French Capt. Jacques-Marie Boudin de Tromelin, chevalier de
                             Tromelin (b. 1751 - d. 1798) on the corvette La Dauphine rescues
                             the remaining slaves on the island who are taken to Mauritius and
                             freed. 
1810 - 1814                Tromelin comes under the jurisdiction of Île de France (Mauritius).
1814                       Placed under the jurisdiction of Île Bourbon (later Réunion).
1825                       Named Tromelin Island in a map by British Admiral William Owen
                             (b. 1774 - d. 1857).
26 Nov 1867 - 22 Dec 1867  Indian ship Atieth Rahamon commanded by Capt. Samuel C. Hodges
                             with its crew is wrecked on the island.
1950                       France begins garrisoning the island.
14 Jun 1960                Administration confirmed by the High Commissioner for Réunion
                             (from 19 Sep 1960)(by décret no 60-555 1 Apr 1960).
 2 Apr 1976                Mauritius formally claims sovereignty over Tromelin (the French
                             government officially rejects the claim on 17 Dec 1976).
 3 Jan 2005                Administrative control of the Îles Éparses is transferred from the
                             prefect of Réunion to the administrator-superior of the French
                             Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF).
21 Feb 2007                Incorporated into the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.
 7 Jun 2010                A bilateral co-management agreement relating to Tromelin and its
                             surrounding maritime areas is signed by France and Mauritius. It
                             is not ratified by the French parliament, however.

Territorial Dispute: Claimed by Mauritius.