Episode 5: Andrew Furuseth – The “Abraham Lincoln of the Sea”
In the fifth episode of Norwegians, we explore the extraordinary life of Andrew Furuseth, a Norwegian-American labor leader often called the Abraham Lincoln of the sea.
Follow Furuseth’s remarkable journey from the remote hills of Norway to the turbulent heart of America’s maritime labor movement. Discover how this quiet sailor became a fierce advocate for seamen’s rights—transforming brutal shipboard conditions and helping to found the Sailors' Union of the Pacific.
We delve into Norway’s seafaring legacy, navigate around Cape Horn, and arrive in 19th-century San Francisco—a lawless port city dominated by crimps, shanghaiers, and ruthless shipowners who exploited sailors with impunity.