Born: 1789 (Hisingen, Gothenburg)
Died: 1851 (Stockholm)
Biography:
Johanna Hård, born Johanna Jungberg, was a Swedish pirate who left a lasting impact on history. Born on December 3, 1789, she grew up as the daughter of farmer tenant Sven Haraldsson Jungberg and Anna Britta Nilsdotter in Hisingen, Gothenburg. In 1813, she married bookkeeper Fredrik Hård, but tragedy struck just four years later when he passed away.
As a widow, Johanna faced difficulties providing for herself, leading her to engage in illegal activities. In one instance, she was arrested for smuggling after sailing to Copenhagen and selling textiles against customs regulations. This incident demonstrated her resourcefulness and determination to overcome the hardships she faced.
However, Johanna’s involvement in criminal activities escalated when she became entangled in a murder trial in 1822. She was accused of murdering her newborn child but was eventually acquitted after evidence showed that the child had been stillborn. Yet, her troubles continued as she faced another trial in 1823, accused of attacking, plundering, and killing the crew of the Danish ship Frau Mette.
During the trial, Johanna denied all charges, but her co-accused testified that she had orchestrated the plan from her home, serving as the leading figure behind the heinous act. Despite her protests of innocence, three of her accomplices were executed, and another was sentenced to forced labor. Johanna, however, managed to escape a guilty verdict due to insufficient evidence against her.
After these tumultuous events, Johanna relocated to Stockholm in 1825, where she assumed the identity of a sea captain’s widow. She managed to conceal her nefarious past and secure a position within the Royal Post Office, earning a reputation as a trustworthy and respectable employee. Her ability to reinvent herself and build a new life in Stockholm was a testament to her resilience and determination.
Johanna Hård passed away in a charity hospital in Stockholm in 1851, leaving behind a complicated legacy. In popular memory, she was remembered in two contrasting images: one as the hardened criminal who influenced her lover to become a pirate, and the other as the impoverished widow who resorted to extreme measures to support herself.