The first Swedish expedition to North America with Fogel Grip and Kalmar Nyckel was launched from the port city of Gothenburg in late 1637.
Following the recommendation of Willem Usselincx, one of the directors of the Dutch West India Company, Swedish Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna appointed Peter Minuit to lead the expedition.
However, Minuit left the colony on June 15, 1638 and sailed to the Caribbean Island of St. Christopher to barter a ship's cargo of wine and aquavit for tobacco.
Kling, who had been promoted to captain, carried out the duties of governor until Lieutenant Peter Hollander Ridder of the Swedish Navy, arrived in New Sweden on April 17, 1640.
[3][4] Kling is believed to have been from the Swedish province of Småland; only one officer named Måns Nilsson occurs in the military lists of the times.