Swedish East India Company

Swedish East India Company
Native name
Svenska Ostindiska Compagniet
Company typePublic company
IndustryTrade
Founded14 June 1731 (1731-06-14)[1]
FounderHenrik König
Colin Campbell
Niclas Sahlgren
Defunct13 December 1813 (1813-12-13)[2]
FateDissolved
Headquarters
Gothenburg
,
Sweden
Websitewww.ostindiskakompaniet.se
The East India House at Norra Hamngatan in Gothenburg, Sweden, built by the Swedish East India Company in 1750. The inscription on the frieze states: "This Building was erected in the year of 1750 by the East India Comp. The Gothenburg museum remodeled it for its collections in the year of 1895".

The Swedish East India Company (Swedish: Svenska Ostindiska Companiet; SOIC) was founded in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1731 for the purpose of conducting trade with India, China and the Far East. The venture was inspired by the success of the Dutch East India Company and the British East India Company. This made Gothenburg a European Centre of trade in eastern products. The main goods were black pepper, spices, silk, tea, furniture, porcelain, precious stones and other distinctive luxury items. Trade with India and China saw the arrival of some new customs in Sweden. The cultural influence increased, and tea, rice, arrack (a drink made from fermented sap or sugarcane) and new root vegetables started appearing in Swedish homes.[3]

It grew to become the largest trading company in Sweden during the 18th century: a total of 132 expeditions were carried out with 37 different ships. The company folded in 1813; nevertheless, it left clear footprints that can still be seen in Gothenburg.[4]

  1. ^ Kjellberg 1975, p. 39.
  2. ^ Kjellberg 1975, p. 163.
  3. ^ "East India Company House". Spotting history. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  4. ^ "The Swedish East India Company". www.soic.se. Svenska Ostindiska Companiet.