Willem Usselincx

Willem Usselincx was a Flemish merchant, investor and diplomat who is credited with establishing both Dutch and Swedish West India Company.

Usselincx was a wealthy Calvinist merchant born in Antwerpen who made his fortune trading with the Iberian Peninsula and the Azores. He lived during the Eighty Years’ War (1568-1648), the Dutch war for independence for Spain. He thought that the foundation of the West India Company can make an important contribution in the fight against the Spain, colonization of the overseas lands and the spread of the reformation.

His book "Further reflections on the Navigation, Commerce and Trade, as also the assurance of the Government of those United Lands in the present Treaty of Peace with the King of Spain and the Archdukes, by a lover of real and constant peace", first printed in 1608 contains his arguments for establishing of the West India trading company.

The Dutch West India Company was founded in 1623. It gained a trade monopoly for the period of 24 years and rights to colonize on the coast of Africa from the Tropic of Cancer to the Cape of Good Hope, and on the American coast from the Straits of Magellan to Newfoundland. However, its system was based on trade and nothing else, and that was the reason why Usselincx went to Sweden and tried to persuade the Swedish king to set up colonies in North America. In 1627 the Swedish West India Company was formed, and Usselincx was made its director. The company is best known for establishing New Sweden in the Delaware region, which operated between 1638 and 1655.

Later he was almost financially ruined because of some bad investments.