What's that word...

I can't remember a word or phrase for a person commissioned to carry out a project. The particular word or phrase related to a somewhat historical role, frequently involving business related ventures in European colonies.

"Agent" and "commissionaire" buzz around my head, but they're not it.

It might be "commission agent", but it doesn't give me that ahh, right satisfaction of remembrance.

"Factor," such velvet. But, no. I think it is "something agent."

Thank you all for stomping around the dictionary with me. Unfortunately, the term seems well used to people and howling, buh-gooling and far leaping doesn't faze and flush it out.

If I find it, I'll let you know what it is.

No. They were freelance agents who oversaw a particular venture. For example, procuring rights to a particular (kind of) plantation, establishing certain trading relations, or even locating people.

The term I'm looking for relates to the colonial era, around the times Joseph Conrad's works pertain to, and is analogous to commission agent.

Definitely closer.