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Heinrich Hackfeld, born 1816 in Almsloh, Germany was the founder of the Heinrich Hackfeld & Co.

He was the fifth child of Hinrich Hackfeld and and Anna Catharina Fastenau. After his father died early, Heinrich went to sea in Amsterdam at the age of sixteen. He used his Seemannsverdienst (seaman’s earnings) to further his education and eventually became part of the Bremish mercantile elite.

On the Express he sailed around the world, learned to speak English and became later the master of this 16-ton brig.

After a few more cargo voyages, the vessel was shipwrecked on a tour from Mazatlan in Mexico to Canton. The ship was damaged beyond repair, but the cargo, Hackfeld and all ten men were saved and eventually returned to Bremen via Hawaii.

Hackfeld was now without any command and had lost his investment in the Express. The next two years he traveled across the Pacific trading goods and rebuilt his capital.

It worked out pretty successful and Heinrich Hackfeld purchased a new ship, which he sailed from Hamburg to Honolulu in 1849.

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