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TheDanish West India Company (Danish:Vestindisk kompagni) orDanish West India–Guinea Company (Det Vestindisk-Guineisk kompagni) was aDano-Norwegianchartered company that operated out of the colonies in theDanish West Indies. It is estimated that 120,000enslaved Africans were transported on the company's ships.[1] Founded as theDanish Africa Company (Dansk afrikanske kompagni) in 1659, it was incorporated into the Danish West India Company in 1671.
Flag of the Danish West Indies.The flag of the West India-Guinea Company.
Map detail showing DanishMap of the company's site in Copenhagen, 1754. West Indies Company's headquarters and dock inChristianshavn, Copenhagen
In March 1659, the Danish Africa Company was started inGlückstadt by the originally FinnishHendrik Carloff; two Dutchmen, Isaac Coymans and Nicolaes Pancras; and two German merchants, Vincent Klingenberg and Jacob del Boe. Their mandate included trade with theDanish Gold Coast in present-dayGhana. In 1671 the Africa Company was incorporated in the Danish West India Company. The West India Company was organized on November 20, 1670, and formally chartered by KingChristian V on March 11, 1671.[2]
The Danes settled inSt. Thomas in 1668.[3] The first successful colonization ofSankt Thomas employed ships of theRoyal Dano-Norwegian Navy, the yachtDen forgyldte Krone and the frigateFærøe (referring tothe islands, but often erroneously translated asPharaoh), but the company quickly began employing ships of their own, while occasionally relying on the royal navy for escorts and protection. From August 30, 1680, it became known[clarification needed] as the West India–Guinea Company. At first, the company had difficulties being profitable, but eventually it began to increase revenue by raising taxes and bringing all colonial exports intoCopenhagen directly.[4]St. John was purchased in 1718 andSt. Croix from theFrench in 1733.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the company flourished from the North Atlantictriangular trade routes. Slaves from the Gold Coast of Africa were traded for molasses and rum in the West Indies.
The company administered the colonies until 1754, when the Danish government's "Chamber of Revenues" took control. From 1760 to 1848, the governing body was known asVestindisk-guineiske rente- og generaltoldkammer.
Frederik Bargum revived the company asDet Guineiske kompagni via Royal resolution of March 18, 1765, to maintain the trade with the Danish Gold Coast colonies. In November, they received the forts of Christiansborg and Fredensborg for 20 years. The company, however, never enjoyed a trade monopoly like theDutch West India Company. Competition for trade remained among all Danish,Norwegian,Schleswig, andHolstein companies.
The financially troubled company was liquidated on November 22, 1776. In anticipation of this, the Dano-Norwegian government took control of the granted forts from August–September 1775. Bargum had fled the country to escape his creditors in 1774.[5]
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