36 Facts About Luis Vernet

Luis Vernet was born in Hamburg but later claimed a French birthplace in his effort to have the French Government intercede with the British Government on his behalf.

Vernet variously referred to himself as Ludwig, Louis, Lewis or Luis depending on the language he was using.

Luis Vernet was multilingual, being fluent in German, French, English and Spanish.

Luis Vernet's ancestors were Huguenots, probably from Avignon, who settled first in Belgium and then Hamburg.

Luis Vernet's parents were the tobacco and tea merchant Jacques Vernet and Maria Vernet.

Luis Vernet had three brothers, Peter Alexander, Emilio and Federico.

Luis Vernet became a merchant travelling to Portugal, Brazil and Hamburg.

Luis Vernet took passage in the frigate USS Congress, arriving in Montevideo in February 1818 and on to Buenos Aires.

Luis Vernet remained in Buenos Aires and organized a trading company with the port of Hamburg.

Luis Vernet had a close personal friendship with Jorge Pacheco, one of the heroes of the Liberation War and the British invasions of the River Plate.

Luis Vernet learned of the wild cattle in the Falklands through his wife Maria, who was related to a former Spanish Governor of Puerto Soledad, and conceived of a plan to exploit the cattle in the islands.

At first Luis Vernet rejected the idea, but after reviewing Pacheco's claim and finding them tenuous, he accepted the offer.

One of the two ships transporting the expedition was nearly seized by Schofield's creditors as it had not been paid for and Luis Vernet was forced to provide surety.

At this point, Pacheco was so discouraged with the enterprise that he planned to sell his share for a small sum of money; instead, Luis Vernet offered him the profits resulting from the capture of wild calves.

Undeterred, Luis Vernet persisted, but by now was aware of conflicting British claims to the islands and sought permission from the British consulate before departing for the islands.

Luis Vernet concluded that in order to succeed the horses would need to be retrained and set to work with the result that by 1828 he had a troop of well-trained horses.

Luis Vernet took settlers, later joined by the British Captain Matthew Brisbane, and before leaving sought permission from the British Consulate in Buenos Aires.

The British asked for a report for the British government on the islands, and Luis Vernet asked for British protection should they return.

Luis Vernet was anxious to establish the colony quickly due to the promise that it would be free from taxation if it could be established within 3 years.

The appointment of Luis Vernet was challenged by the British consul in Buenos Aires, who restated the previous British claim to the Islands.

Luis Vernet remained on good terms with the British consul, Sir Woodbine Parish, with whom he continued to correspond with and report his progress.

In reference to the announcement of his appointment, Luis Vernet later told Parish he had accepted the appointment out of concern that if another governor were appointed it might be detrimental to his business interests.

Luis Vernet sought to assert a grant of a monopoly on seal hunting and one of his first acts was to attempt to curb seal hunting on the Islands by others, to conserve the seal population for his own dealings.

In 1831, Luis Vernet seized the American ships Harriet, Breakwater and Superior for breaking his restrictions on seal hunting.

Property on board the ships was seized and the Harriet along with her captain returned to Buenos Aires to stand trial, with Luis Vernet returning for the trial.

In Buenos Aires, Luis Vernet was effectively bankrupt and attempts to obtain compensation from the US Government for losses from the Lexington raid proved fruitless.

Luis Vernet made several approaches to the British Government asking for support to re-establish his business at Port Louis, receiving support from Woodbine Parish as the best qualified person to develop the islands.

Luis Vernet wrote to Lt Smith offering advice, which was gratefully received and acted upon.

Nevertheless, Luis Vernet continued to influence the development of the Falkland Islands.

Luis Vernet provided Samuel Lafone, a businessman key to the formation of the Falkland Islands Company, with maps of the island and knowledge of the potential of the feral cattle population of the islands.

Luis Vernet was later credited with the discovery of a preservative treatment for leather; the process permitted the rapid growth of leather exports to Europe and elsewhere.

Luis Vernet would develop a method to improve the storage of oils and spirits.

Luis Vernet died in San Isidro, Buenos Aires, in 1871, and was interred in La Recoleta Cemetery.

Luis Vernet is considered as a national hero in Argentina as he was proclaimed Military and Civil Commander of Falkland Islands and the Islands adjacent to Cape Horn by the Republic of Buenos Aires in 1829, on the other hand he is perceived as an unpatriotic merchant who acted in his own interest and made a pact with the British.

Luis Vernet was a complex character who impressed almost everyone who met him as a man of intelligence, charm and drive.

Luis Vernet was not always truthful in what he said and his falsehoods have sometimes misled historians.