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Colin Campbell
Photo: Attributed to Johan Joachim Streng, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons11

Colin Campbell

Scottish merchant and entrepreneur (1686 – 1757)

Colin Campbell (1 November 1686 – 9 May 1757) was a Scottish merchant and entrepreneur who co-founded the Swedish East India Company and was Swedish King Fredrik I's first envoy to the Emperor of China.2

From Wikipedia’s article on Colin Campbell (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born Nov 1, 1686, died May 9, 1757.1

Companies

Early life and education

He was born in November 1686 to John Campbell, a lawyer and prominent citizen of Edinburgh and his wife Elizabeth Campbell of Moy, Inverness-shire. They were related to the noble family of Clan Campbell of Cawdor, later prominent in the Peerage. Colin was the youngest of three brothers (following Archibald and Hugh) and all followed their father in becoming notaries, merchants and prominent citizens. Colin became a Burgess of Edinburgh in 1720, when the citation described him as "of London".

From Wikipedia’s article on Colin Campbell (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Career

Occupation: merchant, diplomat, businessperson.4

Personal life

  • BornNov 1, 1686, Edinburgh5
  • DiedMay 9, 1757, Gothenburg6
  • CitizenshipKingdom of Great Britain, Sweden7
  • SpouseElizabeth Clarges8

Voyage home

They proceeded to Europe, stopping off at the island of Fernando de Noronha, off the coast of Brazil to replenish supplies and some recuperation from scurvy. On 7 September 1733, the Fredericus RS was once more in Gotheburg, eighteen months after it had departed. Campbell immediately set out a catalogue of complaints against the Dutch. A first dividend of 25% was declared for the shareholders of the voyage, followed by a second dividend of 50%. A very prosperous voyage, despite the Dutch.

From Wikipedia’s article on Colin Campbell (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Awards

  • 1753Knight of the Order of the Polar Star9

Sources

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