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Anglo-Swedish Commercial Connections and Diplomatic Relations in the Seventeenth Century
Series: - The Northern World, Volume: 96
Author:
This is the first study to analyse the relationship between England and Sweden across the entire seventeenth century. It emphasises the importance of commerce and diplomacy working in tandem.
The book contains five chapters arranged chronologically, all based on original and innovative archival research, and traces the economic aspects of the relationship in both a qualitative and quantitative context. It draws upon a number of unique incidents to detail the variety and extent of commercial and diplomatic connections that became of primary importance for the welfare and success of both nations over the century.
The book contains five chapters arranged chronologically, all based on original and innovative archival research, and traces the economic aspects of the relationship in both a qualitative and quantitative context. It draws upon a number of unique incidents to detail the variety and extent of commercial and diplomatic connections that became of primary importance for the welfare and success of both nations over the century.
Adam Grimshaw, Ph.D. (2017, University of St Andrews) specialises in British, Scandinavian and Baltic history during the early modern period. He has published on various aspects of the relationship between Britain and the Baltic including migration, diplomacy and trade.
"Grimshaw has accomplished much with this book. [...] Grimshaw has produced what will very likely be the standard text on the subject for some time to come. [...] Grimshaw’s close study of the Anglo-Swedish trade is a solid contribution to the literature on the Baltic trade in early modern Europe. There is simply nothing else like it at present."
Paul Douglas Lockhart,
, in: The English Historical Review, 2025. [DOI: 10.1093/ehr/ceaf218]
"Adam Grimshaw’s study, Anglo-Swedish Commercial Connections and Diplomatic Relations in the Seventeenth Century, is an ambitious endeavour to fill the gap in the existing literature. [...] The source work carried out for the monograph is impressive, given the challenging nature of many of the original documents. [...] Overall, Grimshaw’s valuable contribution provides a thorough study of the evolution of Anglo-Swedish commercial and diplomatic contacts from the small-scale enterprises of the early seventeenth century to the strategically invaluable connections between both countries towards the end of the century. The monograph is recommended reading not only for experts in early modern Scandinavian and English maritime history, but also for anyone interested in the interplay between state-building and growing bilateral (and multilateral) trade." - Henri Hannula, University of Helsinki, in: IJMH (2025) 1-3 [DOI: 10.1177/08438714251332114]
"Its great strength lies in the extensive use of previously unexploited or only partially used archives on trade in Stockholm and Gothenburg. Its originality lies in the sophisticated combination of the diplomatic history approach, the study of trade at the agent level, and the analysis of trade data at the structural level." - Leos Müller, Stockholm University, in: The Mariner's Mirror (2024) 110:4, 485-487 [DOI: 10.1080/00253359.2024.2408946]
Paul Douglas Lockhart,
"Adam Grimshaw’s study, Anglo-Swedish Commercial Connections and Diplomatic Relations in the Seventeenth Century, is an ambitious endeavour to fill the gap in the existing literature. [...] The source work carried out for the monograph is impressive, given the challenging nature of many of the original documents. [...] Overall, Grimshaw’s valuable contribution provides a thorough study of the evolution of Anglo-Swedish commercial and diplomatic contacts from the small-scale enterprises of the early seventeenth century to the strategically invaluable connections between both countries towards the end of the century. The monograph is recommended reading not only for experts in early modern Scandinavian and English maritime history, but also for anyone interested in the interplay between state-building and growing bilateral (and multilateral) trade." - Henri Hannula, University of Helsinki, in: IJMH (2025) 1-3 [DOI: 10.1177/08438714251332114]
"Its great strength lies in the extensive use of previously unexploited or only partially used archives on trade in Stockholm and Gothenburg. Its originality lies in the sophisticated combination of the diplomatic history approach, the study of trade at the agent level, and the analysis of trade data at the structural level." - Leos Müller, Stockholm University, in: The Mariner's Mirror (2024) 110:4, 485-487 [DOI: 10.1080/00253359.2024.2408946]
Acknowledgements
List of Illustrations
Abbreviations
Stylistic Conventions
Weights, Measures and Money
Introduction
1 An Insignificant Trade? 1603–1641
1 Perspectives on Existing Historiography
2 The Union of the Crowns and Its Effect on Baltic Trade
3 The Tudor Period
4 Anglo-Swedish Commerce in the First Half of the Seventeenth Century
5 The Scottish Connection
6 John Coote and Nascent Anglo-Swedish Commercial Networks
7 Anthony Knipe and the English Company of Gothenburg, 1635–1637
8 The Shift towards Sweden
9 Conclusion
2 The Codification of a Relationship, 1642–1659
1 The Rise of Swedish Exports and the English Market
2 Difficulties in the Import Trade
3 The Impetus for Reaching the Swedish Market
4 Commercial Perspectives on Anglo-Swedish Diplomacy
5 Commercial Organisation: the Role of the State
6 Commercial Organisation: the Role of Merchants and Agents
7 The English East India Company and the Swedish Africa Company: Anglo-Swedish Commercial Connections in Colonial Trades
8 Conclusion
3 Commercial Ascendancy, 1660–1671
1 Establishing Permanent Diplomatic Representation
2 England Becomes a Vital Trading Partner
3 Circumventing the Sound
4 Sweden Emerges Unchallenged
5 Commercial Policy and the Demise of the Eastland Monopoly
6 Abraham Kock-Cronström, Copper, and the English Mint
7 Conclusion
4 Mixed Fortunes, 1672–1688
1 Attempts at Finding Accord
2 English Trade Scales New Heights
3 The Problem of Payment
4 Conclusion
5 Commercial Dominance and Diplomatic Disruption, 1689–1700
1 Diplomacy at War
2 The Only Stable Market
3 Anglo-Swedish Disputes: Outstanding Debts and the Expulsion of Foreign Merchants
4 Conclusion
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
List of Illustrations
Abbreviations
Stylistic Conventions
Weights, Measures and Money
Introduction
1 An Insignificant Trade? 1603–1641
1 Perspectives on Existing Historiography
2 The Union of the Crowns and Its Effect on Baltic Trade
3 The Tudor Period
4 Anglo-Swedish Commerce in the First Half of the Seventeenth Century
5 The Scottish Connection
6 John Coote and Nascent Anglo-Swedish Commercial Networks
7 Anthony Knipe and the English Company of Gothenburg, 1635–1637
8 The Shift towards Sweden
9 Conclusion
2 The Codification of a Relationship, 1642–1659
1 The Rise of Swedish Exports and the English Market
2 Difficulties in the Import Trade
3 The Impetus for Reaching the Swedish Market
4 Commercial Perspectives on Anglo-Swedish Diplomacy
5 Commercial Organisation: the Role of the State
6 Commercial Organisation: the Role of Merchants and Agents
7 The English East India Company and the Swedish Africa Company: Anglo-Swedish Commercial Connections in Colonial Trades
8 Conclusion
3 Commercial Ascendancy, 1660–1671
1 Establishing Permanent Diplomatic Representation
2 England Becomes a Vital Trading Partner
3 Circumventing the Sound
4 Sweden Emerges Unchallenged
5 Commercial Policy and the Demise of the Eastland Monopoly
6 Abraham Kock-Cronström, Copper, and the English Mint
7 Conclusion
4 Mixed Fortunes, 1672–1688
1 Attempts at Finding Accord
2 English Trade Scales New Heights
3 The Problem of Payment
4 Conclusion
5 Commercial Dominance and Diplomatic Disruption, 1689–1700
1 Diplomacy at War
2 The Only Stable Market
3 Anglo-Swedish Disputes: Outstanding Debts and the Expulsion of Foreign Merchants
4 Conclusion
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
Historians of commercial, economic, diplomatic and migration history with particular relevance for the early modern period. Scholars of British, Scandinavian and Baltic history would also find this of interest.