William Dickson (Falklands settler) facts for kids

William Dickson (born in Dublin, Ireland, around 1805; died August 26, 1833) was an important Irish settler in Port Louis in the Falkland Islands. He lived there during a very important time in the islands' history. William was hired by Luis Vernet to manage his store in Port Louis. After the Argentine government left the islands, William was trusted to fly the British flag. He also wrote a diary that tells us a lot about daily life in Port Louis right after the British arrived. Sadly, William Dickson was one of the people killed in the Gaucho Murders on August 26, 1833.

Working for Luis Vernet

William Dickson worked as a storekeeper for Luis Vernet in Port Louis. Most of his customers were gauchos (cowboys) who worked near the settlement. They often bought things from him using special notes issued by Vernet himself. These notes were not official money and had no real value outside of Vernet's business.

Taking Care of the British Flag

On January 2, 1833, Captain Onslow arrived at Port Louis. He was in charge of a British ship called HMS Clio. Captain Onslow asked that the flag of the United Provinces of the River Plate (which was an early name for Argentina) be taken down. He wanted the British flag to be put up instead, and for the Argentine leaders to leave the islands.

Major José María Pinedo, who was in charge of an Argentine ship, wanted to fight back. However, his forces were much smaller than the British. Many of his sailors were British and did not want to fight against their own country. So, Major Pinedo protested with words, but he left without a fight on January 5.

The British planned to keep Vernet's settlement at Port Louis going. They asked William Dickson to fly the British flag every Sunday and whenever ships were in the harbor. Dickson tried to send a letter to Vernet, who was in Buenos Aires at the time. He wanted to tell Vernet what had happened, but Captain Onslow's ship left before Dickson could give him the letter.

William Dickson also kept a diary from March 3 to August 26, 1833. In his diary, he wrote about daily life in the settlement. He described the people living there as difficult and the environment as harsh. Dickson's diary is the only written record we have of what happened right before the terrible Gaucho Murders.

The Gaucho Murders

On August 26, 1833, a group of gauchos and Native Americans attacked Port Louis. They were led by Antonio Rivero and had weapons given to them by American seal hunters. The gang killed five settlers, including William Dickson.

The people who survived (13 men, 3 women, and 2 children) found safety on Turf Island in Berkley Sound. They stayed there until a British sealing ship called Hopeful rescued them in October 1833.

See also

• Louis Vernet
• Origins of Falkland Islanders
• Puerto Soledad
• Reassertion of British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (1833)
• List of governors of the Falkland Islands