On February 12, 1832, the Galapagos Islands were formally claimed for Ecuador. The republic was less than two years old, yet it was taking responsibility for an archipelago nearly 1,000 kilometers from the mainland. The expedition arrived aboard a schooner called the Mercedes, and the declaration was made on Floreana Island.
Why Did Ecuador Claim the Galapagos Islands?
Ecuador became a republic in 1830, following the breakup of Gran Colombia. At the time, the Galapagos were remote, difficult to reach, and very different from the inhabited islands we know today. Even so, their location in the Pacific and their potential resources attracted interest.
One of the people who pushed for Ecuador to take possession was José de Villamil. In 1831, he arranged for the islands’ economic possibilities to be studied and then encouraged the government to claim them. President Juan José Flores supported the effort.
The Voyage of the Mercedes
The expedition was led by Colonel Ignacio Hernández aboard the schooner Mercedes. On February 12, 1832, Hernández declared the Galapagos territory of the Republic of Ecuador on Floreana Island. The Galapagos National Park recounts that the declaration was made in the presence of the island’s sole inhabitant at the time, Juan Jhonson.
It is remarkable to picture that voyage. No aircraft could shorten the journey. No harbor full of tourist boats was waiting for the crew. Instead, the islands were reached by sea, and the declaration was made in a place that must have felt extraordinarily far from the young republic’s centers of government.
What Were the Galapagos Like in 1832?
The islands had been visited by explorers, pirates, and whalers before Ecuador claimed them. However, permanent settlement had been limited. After the annexation, colonization began on Floreana, bringing people and introduced animals to the island. That history is part of the Galapagos story, alongside the extraordinary wildlife for which they are now famous.
Just three years later, Charles Darwin visited the Galápagos aboard the HMS Beagle. His observations there would later become closely associated with his work on evolution. Today, the islands are recognized internationally for their unusual species and ecosystems; they were inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1978.
Why Master and Commander Makes Me Think About the Galapagos
One of my favorite films is Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, starring Russell Crowe. Part of its story takes the crew to the Galapagos. The film is set in 1805, so it takes place before Ecuador’s 1832 claim, but it still makes me imagine what approaching those islands by ship might have felt like.
The next time I watch it, I’ll probably be thinking less about airports, hotels, and tourists—and more about sailors arriving after a long Pacific voyage. There certainly would not have been a Starbucks waiting on shore. 😂
When Is the Galapagos Bicentennial?
The 200th anniversary of Ecuador’s annexation of the Galapagos will be on February 12, 2032. It is getting closer, and I think it deserves more than a passing mention on the calendar.
The Galapagos are one of Ecuador’s greatest treasures. Their bicentennial will be a chance to remember the voyage of the Mercedes, learn more about the people who shaped the islands’ history, and consider how this remarkable place should be cared for in the centuries ahead.
