French Polynesian Timeline By cheyenneroth Oct 18, 1767 Samuel Walls becomes the first European to Arrive in Tahiti Oct 18, 1768 Tahiti became a french territory called New Cynthera Oct 18, 1772 Spain attempts to conquer Tahiti Oct 18, 1788 King Pomare I first ascended his throne Oct 18, 1830 Tahiti's population dropped from about 40,000 ibn 1769 to around 9,000 Oct 18, 1843 France declared the island a french protectorate which caused fighting between Tahitians and the French Oct 18, 1880 King Pomare V cede Tahiti's sovereignty to France Oct 18, 1891 King Pomare V (last tahitian monarch) dies Oct 20, 1996 France conducted last of 193 nuclear bomb tests Oct 20, 2009 Tahitian royal family descendant, Tauatomo Mairau proclaimed himself the heir to the island throne