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Clipperton Island (locally known as Île Clipperton and sometimes Île de la Passion) is an uninhabited seven-square-kilometer coral atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 kilometers southwest of Mexico, at 10°17' N, 109°13' W.

It has no ports or harbors, only offshore anchorage. Its climate is tropical and humid, with average temperatures 20-32C and rain from May to October.

It is a possession of France administered from French Polynesia by a high commissioner of the Republic; its defense is the responsibility of France. Its data code is IP.

Although 115 species of fish have been identified in the territorial waters of Clipperton Island, the only economic activity is tuna fishing. It has no other natural resources.

History

Clipperton Island was originally discovered by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, but was later named after John Clipperton, an English pirate and privateer who fought the Spanish during the early 18th century, who used the island to raid ships.

In 1708, two French ships 'Princess' and 'Découverte' reached the island and named it 'Ile de la Possession', and annexed it for France. The first scientific expedition took place in 1725 by Frenchman M.Bocage, who lived on the island for several months.

In 1831 John Fitzgerald on his way to San Blas from Callao during April discovered an island at 18deg 30min N and 114deg 33min W. not shown on any chart.

The American Guano Mining Company, under the Guano Islands Act of 1856, claimed the island for the United State of America. In 1858 the French annexed Clipperton as part of Tahiti. Mexico seized the island in 1897 and established a military outpost on the island. The Americans held it briefly during the Spanish American War of 1898.

In 1906, the British 'Pacific Island Company' annexed the island, and built a settlement together with the Mexican government in order to mine guano. In that year, a lighthouse was also erected. In 1914, about 100 people, mixed men and women, lived on the island. Every two months, a ship from Acapulco went to the island to bring food. However, with the start of the Mexican civil war, the atoll was no longer reachable by ship, and the people on the island were on their own.

By 1915, most of the inhabitants had died, and the last settlers wanted to leave on the American war ship 'Lexington' which had reached the atoll in late 1915. However, the Mexican military Governor declared that evacuation was not necessary. By 1917, most of the men had died and only the ligthhouse keeper was living along with 15 women on the island. In July 1917, three women were the only ones alive and were picked up by the American ship 'Yorktown'.

Ownership of Clipperton was then disputed between France and Mexico. France approached the Vatican for a decision on who owned the lonely atoll, far offshore. In 1930, the Vatican gave the rights to the King of Italy, Vikor Emanuel II, who declared one year later that Clipperton was a part of France. When Clipperton was finally declared as a French posession, the lighthouse was rebuilt and the French settled a military outpost on the island. The outpost only remained for there seven years and then the French abandoned it.

In the late 1930's, Clipperton was visited twice by President Franklin D. Roosevelt who wanted it to become an American possession for use as a trans-pacific air base, and in 1944 he ordered the navy to occupy the island in one of the most secret US operations of WW II. After the war it was abandoned, and has since only been visited by the French Navy and an occasional scientific or amateur radio expedition.

Reference

Edwin D. Dickinson, The Clipperton Island Case. American Journal of International Law, Vol. 27, No. 1., pp. 130-133.

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 ==History==
-Clipperton Island is thought to have been discovered in [[1705]] by an Englishman Captain Clipperton, and a few years later discovered by French navigators. However at that time neither [[France]] or [[Britain]] claimed it. This resulted is Mexico claiming the territory in the 19th century, and it was then France presented a counter-claim, since this time Clipperton Island has been a disputed territory.
+Clipperton Island was originally discovered by [[Ferdinand Magellan]] in 1521, but was later named after John Clipperton, an [[English]] [[pirate]] and [[privateer]] who fought the [[Spanish]] during the early 18th century, who used the island to raid ships.
+In 1708, two French ships 'Princess' and 'Découverte' reached the island and named it 'Ile de la Possession', and annexed it for France. The first scientific expedition took place in 1725 by Frenchman M.Bocage, who lived on the island for several months.
+In 1831 [[John Fitzgerald]] on his way to San Blas from Callao during April discovered an island at 18deg 30min N and 114deg 33min W. not shown on any chart.
+The [[American Guano Mining Company]], under the [[Guano Islands Act of 1856]], claimed the island for the [[United State of America]].  In 1858 the French annexed Clipperton as part of Tahiti. [[Mexico]] seized the island in 1897 and established a military outpost on the island.  The Americans held it briefly during the [[Spanish American War]] of 1898.
+In 1906, the [[British]] [['Pacific Island Company']] annexed the island, and built a settlement together with the Mexican government in order to mine guano. In that year, a lighthouse was also erected. In 1914, about 100 people, mixed men and women, lived on the island. Every two months, a ship from [[Acapulco]] went to the island to bring food. However, with the start of the [[Mexican civil war]], the atoll was no longer reachable by ship, and the people on the island were on their own.
+By 1915, most of the inhabitants had died, and the last settlers wanted to leave on the American war ship 'Lexington' which had reached the atoll in late 1915.  However, the Mexican military Governor declared that evacuation was not necessary.  By 1917, most of the men had died and only the ligthhouse keeper was living along with 15 women on the island. In July 1917, three women were the only ones alive and were picked up by the American ship 'Yorktown'.
+Ownership of Clipperton was then disputed between France and Mexico.  France approached the Vatican for a decision on who owned the lonely atoll, far offshore. In 1930, the Vatican gave the rights to the King of Italy, Vikor Emanuel II, who declared one year later that Clipperton was a part of France.  When Clipperton was finally declared as a French posession, the lighthouse was rebuilt and the French settled a military outpost on the island. The outpost only remained for there seven years and then the French abandoned it.
+In the late 1930's, Clipperton was visited twice by President Franklin D. Roosevelt who wanted it to become an American possession for use as a trans-pacific air base, and in 1944 he ordered the navy to occupy the island in one of the most secret US operations of WW II. After the war it was abandoned, and has since only been visited by the French Navy and an occasional scientific or amateur radio expedition.
 See also: [[Islands controlled by France in the Indian and Pacific oceans]]