Minor French Dependencies

1521                       Possibly discovered by Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan.
1704                       Reportedly discovered by English Captain John Clipperton.
 3 Apr 1711                Claimed for France by Captains Martin de Chassiron and Michel
                             Du Bocage of La Princesse and La Découvert, named the
                             Île de la Passion.
1725                       Frenchman M. Bocage lives on the island for several months.
Apr 1831                   Re-sighted by John Fitzgerald.
1855                       Claimed by France (Île de Clipperton).
1856                       Claimed by U.S. (Clipperton Island).
17 Nov 1858                Annexed by France (subordinated to French Polynesia).
1893 - 1897                English and Mexican phosphate exploitation by Oceanic Phosphate
                             Company.
13 Dec 1897                Annexed by Mexico (Isla de la Pasión), remains uninhabited.
1898                       Briefly occupied by U.S.
1906 - 18 Jul 1917         Settled by Mexico.    
1906 - 1914                British company mines phosphate.
28 Jan 1931                Awarded to France following arbitration.
26 Jan 1935                France re-established possession (subordinated to French Polynesia).
16 Jun 1936 - 21 Feb 2007  Administered by the High Commissioner for French Polynesia.
22 Dec 1944 - 23 Oct 1945  Occupied by U.S. Navy during the "Island X" secret operation.
20 Mar 1986                Clipperton becomes a domaine public de l'État (State-owned public
                             domain).
21 Feb 2007 -              Directly administered by the Minister of Overseas France (who
                             delegates his powers to High Commissioner of French Polynesia).                   

Mexican Governors
11 Sep 1905 - 1915         Ramón Arnaud Vignon             (b. 1879 - d. 1915)
1915 - Jul 1917            Victoriano Álvarez (acting)     (b. 18.. - d. 1917)
                             (self declared)
U.S. Military Commander
22 Dec 1944 - 23 Oct 1945  George Lowry                    (b. 1889 - d. 1981)

Bassas da India
 

Map of Basas da India

Population: Uninhabitable

16th cent.                 Discovered by Portuguese sailors.
28 Feb 1897                Claimed by France, part of French Madagascar colony.
14 Jun 1960                French possession; administered by the High Commissioner 
                             for Reunion (from 19 Sep 1960).
18 Jan 2005                Transferred to the administrators of French Southern and
                             Antarctic Lands.
15 Mar 2007                Incorporated into the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

Territorial Dispute: Claimed by Madagascar.

Banc du Geyser (Geysir)

c.1650                     Shown on Spanish maps as Arecife de Santo Antonio.
23 Dec 1678                Named Geysir Reef when the English vessel Geysir ran aground
                             on the reef.
28 Feb 1897                Banc du Geyser, a drying reef in the Mozambique Channel,
                             claimed by France, part of French Madagascar colony.
14 Jun 1960                French possession; administered by the High Commissioner 
                             for Reunion (from 19 Sep 1960). 
1976                       Madagascar announced the annexation of the reef (no effect).
18 Jan 2005                Transferred to the administrators of French Southern and
                             Antarctic Lands.
15 Mar 2007                Incorporated into the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

Territorial Dispute: the vegetated drying cays of Banc du Geyser, which were claimed by Madagascar in 1976, also fall within the EEZ claims of the Comoros and France (Glorioso Islands).

1774                       Visited by the British ship Europa.
28 Feb 1897                Claimed by France, part of French Madagascar colony.
14 Jun 1960                French possession administered by the High Commissioner 
                             for Reunion (from 19 Sep 1960).
18 Jan 2005                Transferred to the administrators of French Southern and
                             Antarctic Lands.
15 Mar 2007                Incorporated into the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

Territorial Dispute: Claimed by Madagascar.

 2 Mar 1880                Settled and named by Frenchman Hippolyte Caltaux.
23 Aug 1892                Claimed for France, part of French Madagascar.
31 Oct 1897                Formally annexed to France, subject to Mayotte.
1907                       French government ends the concession of Caltaux.
1907 - 1939                Islands entrusted to the Compagnie des Îles Malgaches.
1912 - 1960                Subject to Madagascar.
May 1945 - 1958            Returned to the Compagnie des Îles Malgaches.
1959                       Permanent meteorological station established.
14 Jun 1960                French possession administered by the High Commissioner 
                             for Reunion (from 19 Sep 1960).
1975                       Declared a wildlife reservation.
18 Jan 2005                Transferred to the administrators of French Southern and
                             Antarctic Lands.
15 Mar 2007                Incorporated into the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

Proprietor (from 1892, Warden)
 2 Mar 1880 - 1907         Hippolyte Caltaux                 (b. 1847 - d. af.1907) 

Territorial Dispute: Claimed by Madagascar.

1501                       Discovered by Portuguese Admiral João da Nova.
28 Feb 1897                Claimed by France, part of French Madagascar colony.
14 Jun 1960                French possession administered by the High Commissioner 
                             for Reunion (from 19 Sep 1960).
18 Jan 2005                Transferred to the administrators of French Southern and
                             Antarctic Lands.
15 Mar 2007                Incorporated into the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

Territorial Dispute: Claimed by Madagascar.

1722                       First French visit.
1776                       Explored by French Captain the chevalier de Tromelin on
                             warship La Dauphine.
1814                       Under the jurisdiction of Reunion.
28 Feb 1897                Part of French Madagascar colony.
1954                       France begins garrisoning on the island.
14 Jun 1960                French possession; administered by the High Commissioner 
                             for Reunion (from 19 Sep 1960).
18 Jan 2005                Transferred to the administrators of French Southern and
                             Antarctic Lands.
15 Mar 2007                Incorporated into the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

Territorial Dispute: Claimed by Mauritius.