Nils Mattson (also Matson, Mathsson) Kiöping (also Kjöping, Köping) was the son of a clergyman and the earliest Swede who showed an interest in the fauna and flora of the Cape Colony. He was employed by the Dutch East India Company and while in their service made extensive journeys to the East Indies (now Indonesia), China and other countries during the years 1647 to 1656. An account of his travels was published (in Swedish) in 1667, with several later editions to 1790. The title can be translated as Description of travel through Asia, Africa and many other heathen countries. He spent three weeks at the Cape in 1656 and in his book briefly described some of its geographical features, animals, and the physical appearance of the Hottentots. He also collected some animals and plants, which eventually went to the University of Uppsala.

Upon his return to Sweden in 1656 Kiöping became a lieutenant in the Swedish navy and participated in naval warfare during the next four years. He drowned at Stockholm at the age of 59.

List of sources:

Brinck, P. Swedish exploration of South African animal life during 200 years. In B. Hanstrom, P. Brinck and G. Rudebeck (eds), South African animal life; results of the Lund University expedition in 1950-1951 (Vol. 1, pp. 11-61). Stockholm: Almquist & Wiksell, 1955.

FamilySearch: Nils Mattson Kiöping. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:65DB-JGCD

Wikipedia, Den fria Encyklopedin. https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nils_Matsson_Kiöping

Windquist, A.H. Scandinavians and South Africa: Their impact on the cultural, social and economic development of pre-1902 South Africa. Cape Town: Balkema, 1978.

Compiled by: C. Plug

Last updated: 2025-01-31 10:00:47