person

Herman Leopold Schück

Also known as: Captain Schück

Prussian merchant mariner from Upper Silesia. Previously gold-prospector in Australia and contract captain for the Hamburg-based Carl Schomburgh trading firm. Shipwrecked at Jolo in 1864 when his three-masted vessel Wilhelmine was driven ashore by a storm. Established a sandi (blood compact) with Sultan Jamalul Alam, received a land grant at Lukut Lapas, and planted the first systematic coffee plantation in the Sulu Archipelago (~20,000 Coffea canephora trees). Functioned as de facto German trade consul for the Sultanate's Singapore route.