From Shipwreck to Throne
On Christmas Day 1904, Swedish sailor Carl Emil Pettersson was shipwrecked off Tabar Island in Papua New Guinea. Carried to the local ruler, he soon married Princess Singdo, the king’s daughter. By 1907, he had become the island’s new king.
Copra, Family, and Rule
Pettersson founded a copra plantation named Teripax and expanded his holdings to Simberi and Lihir. Known as “Strong Charley,” he was respected by locals and had nine children with Singdo. She died in 1921, and the following year he returned to Sweden in search of a new wife.
Decline and Discovery
He married Jessie Simpson in 1923 and returned to Tabar, but the plantation had deteriorated. Illness and poor markets made recovery difficult. Pettersson reportedly found gold on Simberi, though he kept this discovery secret.
Departure and Death
Jessie died in Sweden in 1935. That same year, Pettersson left Tabar and went to Australia. He died of a heart attack in Sydney on May 12, 1937. His story received wide attention in Swedish magazines and is believed to have inspired Pippi Longstocking’s fictional father.
In 1904, Swedish sailor Carl Emil Pettersson survived a shipwreck and swam ashore on Tabar Island.
Captured by local islanders known for cannibalism, he was spared and taken to their chief. The chief’s daughter, Singdo, fell in love with him and they later married…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/Eir2VpwlpO
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) May 3, 2025