Editing History of the Falkland Islands (section)

== British return ==
{{main|Reassertion of British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (1833)}}
[[File:HMS Beagle by Conrad Martens.jpg|thumb|right|A watercolour by {{HMS|Beagle}}'s [[technical drawing|draughtsman]], [[Conrad Martens]]. Painted during the survey of [[Tierra del Fuego]], it depicts ''Beagle'' being hailed by native Fuegians. ''Beagle'' visited the Falklands in 1834, and a Fuegian "mission" was later planted on [[Keppel Island]] in the west of the Falklands]]

The Argentinian assertions of sovereignty provided the spur for Britain to send a naval task force in order to finally and permanently return to the islands.

On 3 January 1833, Captain James Onslow, of the brig-sloop {{HMS|Clio|1807|6}}, arrived at Vernet's settlement at Port Louis to request that the flag of the United Provinces of the River Plate be replaced with the British one, and for the administration to leave the islands. While Major José María Pinedo, commander of the schooner ''Sarandí'', wanted to resist, his numerical disadvantage was obvious, particularly as a large number of his crew were British mercenaries who were unwilling to fight their own countrymen. Such a situation was not unusual in the newly independent states in Latin America, where land forces were strong, but navies were frequently quite undermanned. As such he protested verbally, but departed without a fight on 5 January. Argentina claims that Vernet's colony was also expelled at this time, though sources from the time appear to dispute this, suggesting that the colonists were encouraged to remain initially under the authority of Vernet's storekeeper, [[William Dickson (Falklands)|William Dickson]] and later his deputy, Matthew Brisbane.<ref name="briefhistory3" />

Initial British plans for the Islands were based upon the continuation of Vernet's settlement at Port Louis. An Argentine immigrant of Irish origin, William Dickson, was appointed as the British representative and provided with a flagpole and flag to be flown whenever ships were in harbour.<ref name="briefhistory3"/> In March 1833, Vernet's Deputy, Matthew Brisbane returned and presented his papers to Captain [[Robert FitzRoy]] of {{HMS|Beagle}}, which coincidentally happened to be in harbour at the time. Fitzroy encouraged Brisbane to continue with Vernet's enterprise with the proviso that whilst private enterprise was encouraged, Argentine assertions of sovereignty would not be welcome.<ref name="brisbanefitzroy"/>

Brisbane reasserted his authority over Vernet's settlement and recommenced the practice of paying employees in promissory notes. Due to Vernet's reduced status, the promissory notes were devalued, which meant that the employees received fewer goods at Vernet's stores for their wages. After months of freedom following the ''Lexington'' raid this accentuated dissatisfaction with the leadership of the settlement. In August 1833, under the leadership of [[Antonio Rivero]], a gang of [[Creole peoples|Creole]] and Indian gauchos ran amok in the settlement. Armed with muskets obtained from American sealers, the gang killed five members of Vernet's settlement including both Dickson and Brisbane. Shortly afterward the survivors fled Port Louis, seeking refuge on [[Turf Island]] in Berkeley Sound until rescued by the British sealer ''Hopeful'' in October 1833.<ref name="briefhistory3"/>

Lt Henry Smith was installed as the first British resident in January 1834. One of his first actions was to pursue and arrest Rivero's gang for the murders committed the previous August. The gang was sent for trial in London but could not be tried as the [[Crown Court]] did not have jurisdiction over the Falkland Islands. In the British colonial system, colonies had their own, distinct governments, finances, and judicial systems.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefreedictionary.com/|title=Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary|website=TheFreeDictionary.com}}</ref><ref>Karsten, Peter, ''Between Law and Custom, "High" and "Low" Legal Cultures in the Lands of the British Diaspora - The United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, 1600-1900''</ref> Rivero was not tried and sentenced because the British local government and local judiciary had not yet been installed in 1834; these were created later, by the 1841 British [[Letters Patent]].<ref name="Destefani"/> Subsequently, Rivero has acquired the status of a folk hero in Argentina, where he is portrayed as leading a rebellion against British rule.<ref name="Destefani"/> Ironically it was the actions of Rivero that were responsible for the ultimate demise of Vernet's enterprise on the Falklands.

Charles Darwin revisited the Falklands in 1834; the settlements [[Darwin, Falkland Islands|Darwin]] and [[Fitzroy, Falkland Islands|Fitzroy]] both take their names from this visit.

After the arrest of Rivero, Smith set about restoring the settlement at Port Louis, repairing the damage done by the ''Lexington'' raid and renaming it 'Anson's Harbour'. Lt Lowcay succeeded Smith in April 1838, followed by Lt Robinson in September 1839 and Lt Tyssen in December 1839.<ref name="briefhistory3"/>

Vernet later attempted to return to the Islands but was refused permission to return. The British Crown reneged on promises and refused to recognise rights granted by Captain Onslow at the time of the reoccupation. Eventually, after travelling to London, Vernet received paltry compensation for horses shipped to Port Louis many years before.<ref name="briefhistory3"/> G.T. Whittington obtained a concession of {{convert|6400|acre|km2|0}} from Vernet that he later exploited with the formation of the Falkland Islands Commercial Fishery and Agricultural Association.<ref name="UBA1">{{cite web |url=http://www.cpel.uba.ar/filargenta/correo/malv0020.htm |title=El Correo en la Provincia de Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur |access-date=2007-11-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102063233/http://www.cpel.uba.ar/filargenta/correo/malv0020.htm |archive-date=2 November 2007  }} Islas del Atlántico Sur, Islas Malvinas, Historia, Ocupación Inglesa: Port Stanley, Accessed 2007-10-02</ref>