From 1746 to 1749; the Swedish ship G枚tha Lejon sailed on a mercantile mission to Canton. Several accounts of what transpired have survived. A handwritten journal has been attributed to Carl Fredrik von Schantz (1727-92). Another account of the mission of G枚tha Lejon was compiled by Carl Johan Gethe (1728-65); a cartographer and natural historian. His diary is titled 鈥楧iary of a Journey to East India begun on 18 October 1746 and ending June 20; 1749'.

The Swedish East India Company (Swedish: Svenska Ostindiska Companiet or SOIC) was founded in 1731 in Gothenburg; Sweden; for the purpose of conducting trade with the Far East; and grew to become the largest trading company in Sweden during the 18th century. It closed in 1813.