Dispute Graham Island (Mediterranean Sea)

ferdinand ii of 2 sicilies, after whom island named, circa 1850

graham island subject four-way dispute on sovereignty, claimed united kingdom , given name graham island. king of 2 sicilies, ferdinand ii, after whom sicilians named island ferdinandea, sent ships nascent island claim bourbon crown. french navy made landing, , called island julia. spain declared territorial ambitions. each wanted island useful position in mediterranean trade route (to england , france) , close position spain , italy.

initial conflict

in august 1831, volcano had risen above sea level, although still couple of rocks, royal navy thought suitable base control traffic in mediterranean, closer european continent island of malta. small volcanic point important strategic point in mediterranean world s premier maritime power of time, being closer spain , italy malta, next closest. british fleet landed, named graham island, after sir james graham, first lord of admiralty, , planted flag, union jack.

the king of sicily realized strategic significance, , dispatched corvette etna claim new land , dub ferdinandea in honor of king ferdinand ii. last on scene constant prévost, co-founder of french geological society, compared eruption bottle of champagne being uncorked. named island julia, because born in july. diplomatic wrangling broke out.

extended conflict

for 5 months, conflict raged in newspapers , elsewhere different nations fought on 60-metre-high (200 ft) piece of basalt. tourists traveled island see 2 small lakes. sailors watched when passing by, , nobles of house of bourbon reportedly planned set holiday resort on beaches. none of these ideas came fruition, however, island sank beneath waters. 17 december 1831, officials reported no trace of it. dynamically seamount appeared, disappeared, defusing conflict it.