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What jobs did Heinrich Schliemann hold before becoming an archaeologist?
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Heinrich Schliemann
Heinrich Schliemann, detail of an engraving by A. Weger, after a photograph.
Before dedicating his life to archaeology, Heinrich Schliemann held several positions that contributed to his eventual success and financial independence:
- Grocer’s apprentice: At age 14, he began working in a grocery shop, where he reportedly first heard Homer recited in the original Greek.
- Cabin boy: He served in this role on a ship traveling from Hamburg to Venezuela.
- Office boy and bookkeeper: Following a shipwreck off the Dutch coast, he worked for a trading firm in Amsterdam.
- Business agent and entrepreneur: In 1846, he was sent to St. Petersburg as an agent, where he eventually founded his own business and engaged in the indigo trade.
- Military contractor: He amassed a significant fortune during the Crimean War by working as a military contractor, which provided the financial resources necessary to fund his later excavations.1