Arvid Mauritz Wester (10 June 1856 – 11 July 1914) was a Swedish soldier who was active in the service of the Belgians in the Congo.
For almost two years he commanded the remote station at Stanley Falls, where he had to deal with hostile local people and Arabs.
Early years (1856–1883)
Arvid Mauritz Wester was born on 10 June 1856 in Karlskoga, Örebro County, Sweden.
He was descended from the younger son of Peder Wester.
He joined the army as a volunteer on 1 May 1874.
On 14 July 1877 he enrolled as a cadet at the Military School.
He was appointed second lieutenant in the 21st infantry regiment (Närkes regiment) on 2 December 1878.
He decided to take service with the new International African Association (AIA).
Congo (1883–1886)
Wester and about ten other Swedish officers were hired by King Leopold II of Belgium to help found the Congo Free State.
Wester was admitted as an assistant on 1 November 1883, and left for the Congo on 14 November 1883.
He arrived in Vivi on 5 January 1884 and reached Léopoldville on 5 February 1884.
Captain Edmond Hanssens headed upstream from Léopoldville on 23 March 1884 with the three steamers and six Europeans: Wester, Louis-Gustave Amelot, Frederick Drees, Auguste-Joseph
Guérin, Ernest Courtois and Nicholls.
