Polish colonization of the Americas

John of Kolno

John of Kolno (also known as Jan z Kolna, Johannes Scolnus, Ioannis Scolvenius or Iohannes Scolvus Polonus) (1435–1484)—a semi-legendary Polish sailor and navigator serving for the court of Denmark. According to various sources he was one of the first Europeans to reach the shores of America prior to Columbus in 1476.

Polish woodcutters

By 16th century forests of England were already devastated. English production of ships were based on import of wood, mainly from Polish province of Royal Prussia. Thus during all attempts to colonise heavily forested North America, the professional woodcutters were hired in Poland. Begining from Jamestown colony, they constituted 3-5% of population of each English colony.

Kurland chapter

Poland, the overlord of the Duchy of Courland, established the Duchy in 1561. Under the duke, Jacob Kettler, the Duchy reached the peak of its prosperity. During his travels to Western Europe, Jacob became the eager proponent of mercantile ideas. Metalworking and ship building became much more developed. Also the powder mills, producing the gunpowder, were established. Trading relations were established not only with nearby countries, but also with Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, etc. Jacob established the merchant fleet of the Duchy of Courland, with its main harbours in Ventspils, Liepaja. In 1651 the Duchy even gained its first colony in Africa, St. Andrews Island at the Gambia River and established Jacob Fort there. The main export goods were ivory, gold, furs, spices. Soon afterwards, in 1652, another colony was established in Tobago in the West Indies. There the main export goods were sugar, tobacco, coffee and spices.

However, all this time the Duchy of Courland was a focus of interest for both Sweden and Poland. In 1655 the Swedish army entered the territory of the Duchy and the Swedish - Polish war (1655 - 1660) begun. Duke Jacob was captured by Swedish army in 1658-1660. During this period both colonies were taken by Dutch colonists, the merchant fleet and factories were destroyed. This war ended with the Treaty of Peace at Oliv (near Gdańsk). Tobago was regained again just for a short period at the end of rule of Jacob. He began to restore the fleet and factories, but Duchy never again reached its prosperous level as it was until 1655.

When Jacob died in 1682, his son, Friedrich Casimir, was the next duke. During his reign the production continued to decrease. Duke himself was more worried to enjoy glamorous celebrations and for these reasons spent more money, than it was possible. Thus, he also had to sell Tobago to British colonists. He died at 1698. During this period Poland increased its influence in political and economical life of Duchy.

Ilinois

to be written

Polish Sea and Colonial League

to be written