"When Badin died, he left behind diaries, a vast book collection, private letters and an autobiography offering a window into his life in 18th- and 19th-century Stockholm." New Black Europe exhibition at the Swedish National Museum #earlymodern đïž
Annika BĂ€rwald
Swedish exhibition explores life of 18th-century Black diarist
Born into slavery, Gustav Badin became part of Swedish royal court and left legacy of books and letters
In 1760, a Black child around 10 years old arrived at the Swedish royal court as a âgiftâ to the queen. Adolf Ludvig Gustav Fredrik Albrecht Couschi, who became known as Badin (derived from the French for joker or prankster), later held titles including chamberlain, court secretary, ballet master and civil servant.
He is thought to have been born into slavery between 1747 and 1750 in the former Danish colony of St Croix (now part of the US Virgin Islands), where he was âownedâ by Christian Lebrecht von Pröck, who took him to Denmark. He was âreceivedâ by Gustaf de Brunck, a Swedish councillor of commerce, who later âdonatedâ Badin to Queen Louisa Ulrika. Continue reading...
