Jean Abraham Grill

Jean Abraham Grill was a Swedish merchant and entrepreneur from a prominent business family who lived in Canton, China as representative of the Swedish East India Company.

The first business experience, Grill gained in France working in Montpellier. Through the mediation of his father who served as director of the Swedish East India Company, Grill was sent to Canton in 1761 where he spent the next ten years working as supercargo. He continued to use his father’s position and influence for his professional wellbeing long after arrival. In China Grill also founded two private companies. The first was founded in partnership with Michael Grubb, one of the directors of the SOIC who established the first Swedish trading office in Canton, while the second was entirely in his ownership. The Grubb-Grill company traded with India, Java, Indochina, Philippines and Japan in various goods, while the second was used for tea trade and smuggling of opium from India.

Back in Sweden, Grill invested his money in Swedish factories purchasing and improving factories in Godegård. Grill died in 1792 and business continued to run his wife, Lovisa Ulrika Lüning called by the local people The Nail Lady.