Background
Wilhelm Mattson was born on October 18, 1849 in Lysekil in Västra Götaland County, Sweden.
Wilhelm Mattson was born on October 18, 1849 in Lysekil in Västra Götaland County, Sweden.
He attended public schools in Sweden, then took an intermission of a year to go to sea at the early age of ten.
He was orphaned during his childhood. Matson came to New York City in 1863 as a cabin boy, at the age of fourteen. Working his way up in the maritime world, he arrived in San Francisco, California after a trip around Cape Horn in 1867.
At the end of two years he was captain of a vessel, engaged chiefly in carrying coal to the Spreckels Sugar Company refinery.
Working aboard the Spreckels family yacht, Matson struck up a friendship with tycoon Claus Spreckels, who would finance many of Matson"s new ships. In 1882, Matson bought his first ship called Emma Claudina, named for Spreckels’ daughter.
Matson had learned there was money to be made carrying sugar from the Hawaiian Islands. In 1882, the Emma Claudina ran to the Hawaiian Islands.
The enterprise began in the carrying of merchandise, especially of plantation stores, to the islands and returning with cargoes of sugar.
This led to gradually expanding interests at both ends of the line, which kept pace with the commercial development of the country. In 1887, Matson sold the Emma Claudina and acquired the brigantine Lurline, which more than doubled the former vessel"s carrying capacity. Soon he had three vessels running.
Increased commerce brought a corresponding interest in Hawaii as a tourist attraction.
The 146-passenger ship South.S. Wilhelmina followed in 1910. More steamships continued to join the fleet.
When Matson died in 1917 at the age of sixty-seven, the Matson fleet comprised fourteen of the largest, fastest and most modern ships in the Pacific passenger-freight service. In addition to serving as President of the Matson Navigation Company, Matson was President of Honolulu Consolidated Oil Company, Commercial Petroleum Company, Atlas Wonder Mining Company, and Wonder Waler Company
Additionally, he served as a Director of the National Ice Company, Honolulu Plantation Company, Paauhau Sugar Plantation Company, and Hakalau Plantation Company
One of the high honors conferred upon Matson was his appointment as Consul of Sweden, giving him jurisdiction over the Pacific Coast of the United States. He died on October 11, 1917.
