William Henry Koebel


William Henry Koebel was an English author and businessman. He is best remembered today for his books on trade and travel within Portugal., the Caribbean, Central America and South America. His books continue to be studied today by academics.

Life

Koebel was born in Forest Hill, London, England.
Having focussed on Portugal in his earlier years as a writer, painting a detailed and colourful portrait of the country in its final months under a monarchy, he travelled the Caribbean, Central and South America. He worked to expand British trade in the regions, most successfully in Chile and especially the port of Valparaiso which was a major British trading port before the construction of the Panama Canal. His most successful and influential book is the South American Handbook which he first published in 1921 and continues to be edited and reprinted as recently as 2014.

Works