Jarvis Island timeline

21 April 1821 Discovered by Captain Brown of the English vessel Eliza Francis
1835 and 1836 Landings were made by Captain Michael Baker from the ship Braganza
December 1840 The U.S. Exploring Expedition's ships Peacock and Flying Fish survey the island
1845 (Captain Michael Baker?) lands on island from the Desdamona
1855 Guano samples taken from Jarvis Island
March 1857 Alfred G. Benson of New York and Charles H. Judd of Honolulu from Captain John Paty's Hawaiian schooner Liholiho to claim the island for the American Guano Company
1857 U.S.S. St. Mary's, under Commander Charles Henry Davis, surveyed the island and made a formal claim in the name of the United States
27 February 1858   C. H. Judd takes 23 native workmen on Captain Pendleton's ship "John Marshall" to begin the extraction of guano
26 July 1879 Island abandoned by guano diggers. American schooner Jos. Woolley, under Captain Benj. Hempstead evacuate all men and supplies from the island
3 June 1889 Jarvis annexed by Great Britain
1906 Island leased to the Pacific Phosphate Company of London and Melbourne
30 August 1913 Amaranth, a barkentine from San Francisco mastered by C. W. Nielson, carrying coal, crashes on the south shore
1924 Scientific party from B.P. Bishop Museum visit the island aboard the U.S.S. Whippoorwill and make a biological survey of the island
26 March 1935 U.S. Coast Guard cutter Itasca, with a group of four colonists, lands on the island to once again claim Jarvis Island in the name of the United States

Information taken from American Polynesia and the Hawaiian Chain