Georg Hewel (Jerzy Hewel)

Georg Hewel was a wealthy Gdańsk merchant and shipowner who helped King Władysław IV build a royal fleet in the 1630s. He placed two of his own merchant ships at the king's disposal and bought others in his own name to conceal the king's plans.

Appointed the king's agent, he purchased ten more ships at royal expense. Together with his own vessels they formed the basis of the fleet, which later found a base on the Hel Peninsula.