Colin Campbell Swedish East India Company Founding and Voyages

Colin Campbell was a key figure in the founding of the Swedish East India Company. He was one of the company's first directors.

The Swedish East India Company was founded in 1731. This marked the beginning of Sweden's involvement in the Indian Ocean trade.

Colin Campbell's voyages with the company took him to various destinations, including India and Southeast Asia. He played a significant role in establishing trade relationships with local merchants.

Campbell's experience and knowledge of the Indian Ocean trade helped shape the company's early years.

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The Swedish East India Company was founded in 1731 with a royal charter that gave it a monopoly on trade with the East Indies. This charter was approved by the Swedish Parliament, known as the Riksdag.

The company was granted permission to trade with the East Indies, but it was forbidden to trade in areas controlled by other countries without their permission. This was a significant limitation, but the company was still expected to be profitable, and it agreed to pay the King 25,000 silver dollars per voyage.

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The company's directors, including Colin Campbell, became very rich due to their success in trade. Campbell himself applied for naturalization as a Swede in 1731, which allowed him to become a director of the company.

Sweden was in a difficult economic situation after the Great Northern War, and trade was seen as a way to rebuild the country. However, there were concerns that Sweden wouldn't have enough resources to defend the company's ships and trading posts.

The Swedish venture was made possible by support from foreign traders and merchants, particularly British and Dutch traders who had been shut out from their own companies. These foreign investors and buyers played a significant role in the company's success.

The company's trade was not without controversy, and some critics argued that it was wasteful to exchange Swedish goods like steel and timber for imports like tea and porcelain. One of the most vocal critics was Johan Arckenholtz, who also raised moral concerns about the impact of the trade on the Swedish population.

Despite the opposition, the company continued to operate successfully, with 61 voyages returning between 1733 and 1767. The company even made some concessions to its critics, agreeing to refrain from shipping textiles and instead focusing on importing goods like tea and porcelain.

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Colin Campbell was the First Supercargo of the Fredericus Rex Sueciae, which set sail from Gotheburg on 9 February 1732.

He carried all the authority of the Company and had to be deferred to by the First Captain, Georg Herman Trolle.

Colin Campbell, a Scottish merchant, was instrumental in establishing the Swedish trading company. He met with Swedish Niclas Sahlgren in Amsterdam in the late 1720s to plan a Swedish trading company.

Campbell was the driving force behind the enterprise, but to gain credibility, they needed a respectable Swede to front the company. Commissioner Henrik König, a Swede of German origin, was chosen for this role.

In 1729, König submitted an application for a charter for two ships, which was initially met with reluctance by the Swedish government. The government was concerned about competition with the main powers in trade and politics.

König took his case to the Swedish parliament and eventually gained royal privileges for the company on June 14, 1731. These privileges were known as the First Charter or the First Octroi, initially granted for a period of 15 years.

The Swedish East India Company was officially established, giving it a monopoly on all Swedish trade with the East Indies. This meant any port east of the Cape of Good Hope was fair game for the company.

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The Fredericus Rex Sueciae was the first ship to set sail on a Company voyage, leaving Gotheburg on February 9, 1732.

Colin Campbell was the supercargo on this voyage, holding all the authority of the Company, and had to be deferred to by the First Captain, Georg Herman Trolle.

The ship had a diverse crew, including foreigners like Second Captain George Kitchin.

Mr Baron was the Chief Mate, and Hindric Bremer was the Second Mate, while the Chief Carpenter was Mr Brown.

Jack, the ship's boy, was also part of the crew, alongside assistants to Campbell, including Daniel Campbell, James Moir, and Gustav Ross.

The ship had multiple supracargos, with Mr Graham, Charles Morford, and John Pike serving as the Second, Third, and Fourth Supercargos, respectively.

Colin Campbell's first expedition was a long and grueling journey. The distance from Sweden to China and back typically took 17-20 months to complete.

The crew had to wait for the trade winds to change direction, which could add an extra 4-7 months to their journey. They were at the mercy of the winds and currents.

A typical journey would start in early spring and finish by late summer the next year. The crew had to be prepared for the long haul.

Not all of the crew members made it back home, unfortunately. The voyages were indeed very dangerous.

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Colin Campbell's success was a direct result of his numerous voyages with the Swedish East India Company. He made over 20 voyages in 15 years, which is a testament to his hard work and dedication.

These voyages brought him great riches, which he was able to use to pay off all his debts. He was finally able to live debt-free.

Campbell's life was marked by his success, but it ultimately came to an end in 1757, when he passed away.