October 1813 to September 1814, 20% of the U.S.'s exports passed through the island. The island was notable for its liberalism, particularly in regards to religious toleration. In Sweden, Lutheranism was strictly adhered to; people were obligated to attend a number of church services a year, and adherence to other religions or denominations was against the law (conversion to Catholicism, for example, often led to people being exiled). However, these two islands were inhabited by such a diverse group of people from European backgrounds, that French and English were also accepted official languages. On Saint Barthélemy, in 1787, only 21 Lutherans resided there, compared to over 500 Catholics, as well as several hundred people from different Protestant denominations. The government did not seek to suppress this: indeed, they ordered Saint Barthélemy's governor, Rosenstein, to salary a Catholic priest to come from Saint Martin twice a month. Africa Sweden temporarily controlled several settlements on the Gold Coast (present Ghana) since 22 April 1650, but lost the last when on 20 April 1663 Fort Carlsborg and the capital Fort Christiansborg were seized by Denmark. Cape Coast In 1652, the Swedes took Cape Coast (in modern Ghana) which had previously been under the control of the Dutch and before that the Portuguese. Cape Coast was centered on the Carolusburg Castle which was built in 1653 and named after King Charles X Gustav of Sweden but is now known as the Cape Coast Castle. India The Swedish East India Company did not establish any permanent colonies in India, but they briefly possessed a factory in Porto Novo (today Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu). The fort was destroyed a month after its construction by French and British forces. See also Swedish colonization of the Americas Swedish Empire Swedish East India Company References Sources WorldStatesmen- Swedish Possessions & Colonies History of Tobago External links Wetaskiwin local heritage – Swedish settlers Mémoire St Barth | History of St Barthélemy (archives & history of slavery, slave trade and their abolition) – ''Comité de Liaison et d'Application des Sources Historiques Former Swedish colonies Overseas empires Lists of former colonies 17th century in Sweden 18th century in Sweden History of European colonialism 1663 disestablishments in the Swedish colonial empire 1784 establishments in the Swedish colonial empire 1878 disestablishments in the Swedish colonial empire 1638 establishments in the Swedish colonial empire