Who is Wilhelm Dinesen from Isak Dinesen: The Life of a Storyteller and what is their importance?

Wilhelm Dinesen was Isak's father. He is described as an adventurer, an aristocrat, and a politician. When he traveled to North America, Wilhelm lived with the Native Americans for a time. While living with the natives, he contracted syphilis, and soon after, hung himself. Isak was ten-years-old.