Swetja

Swetja, also known as Yan Shirui was a Hong merchant active in trade between China and the foreign companies in Canton. Swetja was born in a merchant family of Texia, the prominent Cantonese merchant in the 1740s, as the first born son. Following his father’s death in 1751, Swetja inherited the company Taihe Hang and ran it with the help of his brothers for the next ten years. After his death, the management of the company was transferred to his brother Inksja.