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A.H. Wappäus (German Shipping Company)

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 26 Mar 2007

A.H. Wappäus

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A.H. Wappäus

A.H.Wappäus - Georg Hinrich Wappäus came to Hamburg at the end of the 18th century. His father-in-law was a linen trader. After Wappäus became full citizen rights in 1805 he expanded the business and started to export linen to South America. In 1825 he owned 5 ships, in 1827 his fleet consisted of 13 ships. The business increased and Wappäus also exported timber and pantiles, goods that were badly needed by the emigrated settlers. In 1836 Wappäus died. The 10 ships left were completely sold by his heirs.
After 1850 one of his sons, Adolph Hinrich Wappäus returned to Hamburg. He was Partner of Blohm & Co. in Ciudad Bolivar at the Rio Orinoco (Venezuela). In 1857 he established an import and export trading company to deal the former Great Colombia and Guayana. He also established a small shipping company with 3 ships. The company increased after the German-French War 1870/71. 1883 was his best year. The company owned 12 sailing ships. The main business was trade on the Rio Orinoco into inner Venezuela til the end of the 90ies. The shipping on Rio Orinoco and Rio Demerara was reestablished just before WWI by August Bolten and Seetzen Brothers (Bremen) whose ships sometimes were registered in Hamburg.
When A.H.Wappäus died in 1904, the last 2 ships were sold and the shipping-company was extinguished.
The company used a yellow flag divided by a red saltire. In the centre was a white roundel with a red hanseatic cross.
Source: Jürgen Meyer: "Hamburger Segelschiffe von 1795-1945"; ISBN 3-89225-400-1; Hamburg 1999; p.91.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 26 Mar 2007