Who is Dirk Struan from Tai-Pan and what is their importance?

Dirk Struan is a seaman of legendary proportions. He is forty-three. He runs Struan and Company, which is the biggest trading company in Asia. It is so big and powerful that the Chinese traders call it The Noble House. Dirk is known as the Tai-Pan. Struan began his career at sea working as a cabin-boy at the age of twelve. He owned his first ship at the age of twenty and was active in the opium trade. His chief rival was Tyler Brock.