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| 1865 |
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| The American government concluded a treaty with the sultan of Brunei, and the American Trading Company of Borneo acquired title to lands, but the effort to exploit the region failed. | 1 |
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| 1870 |
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| The Dutch introduced a new sugar law and a new agrarian law in Java, which involved a relaxation of the culture system and the gradual extension of private agriculture. | 2 |
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| 1881 |
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| The British government issued a charter to the North Borneo Company. This company took over the assets of the American company and secured new concessions from the sultans of Brunei and Sulu. Protests of the Dutch and Spaniards were to no avail (Spanish claims were renounced in 1885). | 3 |
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| 1888, March 17 |
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| Great Britain established a protectorate over Sarawak. | 4 |
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| May 12 |
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| The British protectorate over North Borneo continued to be held and administered by the North Borneo Company. | 5 |
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