) is a representative democratic republic in South America
, bordered by Colombia
on the north, Peru
on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west.
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|right|220px|[[Brazil]] declares independence.
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.