First discovered by the British in 1821, the uninhabited island was annexed by the US in 1858 but abandoned in 1879 after tons of guano had been removed. The UK annexed the island in 1889 but never carried out plans for further exploitation. The US occupied and reclaimed the island in 1935.It was abandoned in 1942 during World War II. The island was established as a NWR in 1974. The island is currently a National Wildlife Refuge administered by the US Department of the Interior. - The World Factbook