Gustav III had always wanted a Swedish base in the New World, which he finally acquired in a treaty with the French King, Louis XVI on July 1 1784.

[8] According to Anne Pérotin-Dumon, a great wave of immigration took place in 1793-1794 by groups of inhabitants from Guadaloupe and Martinique, mainly consisting of royalists and supporters of the revolution.

On one hand, he dissaproved of giving protection to the "foreign adventurers and bankrupt persons", while also welcoming them as they brought "considerable property, slaves, households, and cash.

"[8] On September 22, the merchant and mariners in Gustavia took up arms against the Swedish authorities, specifically Governor Hans Henrik Ankarheim, Samuel Fahlberg, and Anders Bergsted.

The motives for the mutineers was initially unclear, other than that they were reacting to Governor Anckarheims order to disband the town militia which he called "unruly, disorganized, and rebellious".