Joachim Nettelbeck, who was born in 1738 in Kolberg and died there in 1824, was a German sailor and folk hero. At the age of eleven, he went to sea with his uncle on a slave ship and traveled the coasts of West Africa, Western Europe, and the West Indies. After completing his schooling, he underwent training as a sailor and subsequently sailed under Prussian and later Danzig flags through the waters of the world. During his lifetime and beyond, Joachim Nettelbeck was regarded as a pioneer, both for the young seafaring community and for his advocacy of citizens' rights in the discussion surrounding the Prussian reforms. In this book, Nettelbeck himself describes his life journey and provides a comprehensive insight into the general conditions of the 18th and early 19th centuries.