Swedish colonization of the Americas - Definition and Overview

The Swedish colonization of the Americas consisted of a 17th century settlement on the Delaware River in Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, and possessions in the Caribbean during the 18th and 19th century.

It may be noted, that Finland until 1809 was the eastern third of Sweden, and that a great deal of the Swedish settlers had Finnish mother tongue and/or came from present-day Finland.

North America

• New Sweden (1638-1655) Colony centered in Delaware but with other settlements such as New Stockholm and Swedesboro in New Jersey. Conquered by the Dutch, who perceived the presence of Swedish colonists in North America as a threat to their interests in the New Netherlands colony. The Swedish colonists stayed.

Caribbean

• Saint-Barthélemy (1785-1878) Operated as a porto franco (free port). Capital city of Gustavia retains its Swedish name.
• Guadeloupe (1813-1814) Came into Swedish possession as a consequence of the Napoleonic Wars. It gave rise to the Guadeloupe Fund.

See also

• Possessions of Sweden
• Colonial governors in 1816