1534    The city of Quito in Ecuador is founded by Spanish settlers led by Sebastián de Belalcázar.

1809    Quito, now the capital of Ecuador, declares independence from Spain. This rebellion will be crushed on August 2, 1810.

1821    The Republic of Gran Colombia (a federation covering much of present day Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, and Ecuador) is established, with Simón Bolívar as the founding President and Francisco de Paula Santander as vice president. thumb

1822    José de San Martín arrives in Guayaquil, Ecuador, to meet with Simón Bolívar.

1830    Ecuador gains its independence from Gran Colombia.

1831    Ecuador and Venezuela are separated from Greater Colombia.

1832    Ecuador annexes the Galápagos Islands.

1949    In Ecuador an earthquake destroys 50 towns and kills more than 6,000.

1953    Ernesto "Che" Guevara sets out on a trip through Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador.

1956    Operation Auca: Five U.S. missionaries are killed by the Huaorani of Ecuador shortly after making contact with them.

1983    A Boeing 727 crashes into hilly terrain after a tail strike in Cuenca, Ecuador, claiming 119 lives.

1991    Ecuador becomes a member of the Berne Convention copyright treaty.

1995    The Cenepa War between Peru and Ecuador ends on a cease-fire brokered by the UN.

2000    Ecuador: After the Ecuadorian Congress is seized by indigenous organizations, Col. Lucio Gutierrez, Carlos Solorzano and Antonio Vargas depose President Jamil Mahuad. Gutierrez is later replaced by Gen. Carlos Mendoza, who resigns and allows Vice-President Gustavo Noboa to succeed Mahuad.