Fridolf Heck

Fridolf Fabian Heck the surname also rendered as Höök (Scandinavian form) or Fridolf Kirilovich Gek (Russian: Фридольф Кириллович Гек) (December 30, 1836 – July 4, 1904) was a Finnish naval captain, whaler, free trader, and settler in the Russian Ussuri krai.

Heck was born in Ekenäs to Lieutenant Erik (1792–1848) and Ulrika Charlotta Sofia Aminoff (1806–1885).

Fridolf went to work on a ship at the age of thirteen and became a boatsteerer on the Russo-Finnish whaleship Graf Berg in 1857 and a sea captain in 1863 from Turku Maritime School.

He took an offer during the famine period of 1862-68[1] from Alexander II of Russia for Finns to settle freely beyond the Amur River.

In June 1879, their settlement was attacked by Hunhuz bandits and his wife was murdered, along with his son and several workers.