Adolf Lüderitz
Encyclopedia
Franz Adolf Eduard Lüderitz (July 16, 1834- October 30, 1886) was a German merchant and founder of the first German colony in Southwest Africa.
He was born in Bremen, where he engaged in the tobacco
business with his father, who died in 1878. Adolf Lüderitz succeeded to the management of the business. He had traveled to the United States
from 1854 to 1859.
In 1881, he established a factory at Lagos, and in 1883, he acquired land in southwest Africa
which he placed under the protection of the German Empire
in 1884. He drowned in the Orange River
in 1886.
He was born in Bremen, where he engaged in the tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
business with his father, who died in 1878. Adolf Lüderitz succeeded to the management of the business. He had traveled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from 1854 to 1859.
In 1881, he established a factory at Lagos, and in 1883, he acquired land in southwest Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
which he placed under the protection of the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
in 1884. He drowned in the Orange River
Orange River
The Orange River , Gariep River, Groote River or Senqu River is the longest river in South Africa. It rises in the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho, flowing westwards through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean...
in 1886.