British Captain John Strong, Commander of the Welfare, made the first undisputed landing on the Islands.  Strong spent six days sailing about the Islands, passing between the two main islands and landed near what is now Bold Cove on West Falkland.  This stretch of water was named after Viscount Falkland, Treasurer of the Royal Navy.

Over the years, several French ships visit the Islands, which they call Les Iles Malouines after the French port of St. Malo.