Ecuador Annexed the Galápagos Islands in 1832

Today in Latin American history, Ecuador annexed the Galápagos Islands in 1832.

Spanish explores first found the islands in 1535.

Ecuador annexed the Galápagos Islands on 12 February 1832, naming them the Archipelago of Ecuador.

This new name added to several names that had been, and are still, used to refer to the archipelago. The first governor of Galápagos, General José de Villamil, brought a group of convicts to populate the island of Floreana, and in October 1832, some artisans and farmers joined them.

Other events that occurred on this day:

Today in LatAm history, Santiago, Chile was founded by Pedro de Valdivia in 1541

Today in LatAm history, an Argentine/Chilean patriotic army, after crossing the Andes, defeated the Spanish troops on the Battle of Chacabuco in 1817

Today in LatAm history, Bernardo O’Higgins formally approved the Chilean Declaration of Independence near Concepción, Chile in 1818

Today in LatAm history, Argentine writer Julio Cortázar who was a part of the Latin American Boom died in 1984

Today in LatAm history, Brazilian nun Dorothy Stang who was a rain forest activist was killed in 2005