The Most Ravishing Women of All Time: Six – Queen Emma of The South Seas

Introduction

Princess Emma Coe-Forsaythe-Kolbe was high born. The daughter of one of the first Americans to Samoa she was to rise to prominence in history an awed, “Queen,” of the European South Pacific. In 1913 she retired to majestic Mosman, Sydney, a very rich lady.  A Princess, Emma was second of about fourteen to American Jonas Cole, and his first Samoan wife. Anointed the American commercial agent in Samoa of the 1850’s Emma was blessed with connections, a good education and ravishing looks. Hers were the type that comes from the mixing of Polynesian with American blood. Simply stunning, the young Emma was also headstrong choosing her men and her future with shrewdness. This is why people called her, “Queen.” They were in awe of her power in those early days of the European Pacific.

Son of a Gun

Jonas Cole. Little more than a pimply teen who absconded to the Pacific as a cabin-boy on some schooner in 1834, ending up in distant and unknown Apia, Samoa. Here was a life! Beautiful, comely maids, little toil and abundant food lay in stark contrast to the type of life Jonas may have expected in America. Jonas Cole, Emma’s father, frolicked, congressing with many beautiful Samoan goddesses, whilst gulping fresh coconut milk and dining on sea-crabs, before azure oceans painted with blazing sunsets. Nearby though lurked the London Missionary Society ready to halt such humbug. Jonas Cole came into this place more that ready to fight any missionaries plus the growing influence of other wayward Europeans filtering into this paradise. It was 1850 when his pretty second daughter, Emma, was born.

Young Emma Coe, circled, with her sisters. (Source: Robson, R.W.)

Emma Comes of Age

European influence by the late-19th Century, in these faraway islands, was setting like cement. Traders from across the world were now bringing European ways to this South Sea Shangri-la of Samoa. Religion, the whip and gin were becoming the order of the day. So too was land grabs, smallpox and cash – corrupting the once untouched Polynesian life. Jonas Coles was the only American who could speak fluent Samoan, so was knighted the American commercial representative, to Apia. It was a task to which he brought skill. Emma was now coming of age surrounded by her huge family of equally gorgeous American Samoan sisters and brothers. On her father’s knee she learned commerce. It was time now also for her schooling and soon marriage. To finish school Emma was sent to Sydney and later San Francisco. The Coes were Samoan-American royalty so Emma always received the best.