Stanley begins search for Livingstone
On this day in 1871 journalist Henry Morton Stanley begins his famous search through Africa for the missing British explorer Dr.David Livingstone.In the late 19th century Europeans and Americans were deeply fascinated by the Dark Continent of Africa and its many mysteries.Few did more to increase Africas fame than Livingstone one of the United Kingdoms most intrepid explorers.
In August 1865 he set out on a planned two-year expedition to find the source of the Nile River.Livingstone also wanted to help bring about the abolition of the slave trade which was devastating Africas population.Almost six years after his expedition began little had been heard from Livingstone.James Gordon Bennett Jr.
editor of the New York Herald decided to capitalize on the publics craze for news of their hero.He sent Stanley to lead an expedition into the African wilderness to find Livingstone or bring back proof of his death.At age 28 Stanley had his own fascinating past.
As a young orphan in Wales he crossed the Atlantic on the crew of a merchant ship.He jumped ship in New Orleans and later served in the Civil War as both a Confederate and a Union soldier before beginning a career in journalism.After setting out from Zanzibar in March 1871 Stanley led his caravan of nearly 2000 men into the interior of Africa.Nearly eight months passedduring which Stanley contracted dysentery cerebral malaria and smallpoxbefore the expedition approached the village of Ujiji on the shore of Lake Tanganyika.
Sick and poverty-stricken Livingstone had come to Ujiji that July after living for some time at the mercy of Arab slave traders.When Stanleys caravan entered the village on October 27 flying the American flag villagers crowded toward the new arrivals.Spotting a white man with a gray beard in the crowd Stanley stepped toward him and stretched out his hand Dr.
Livingstone I presumeThese wordsand Livingstones grateful responsesoon became famous across Europe and the United States.Though Stanley urged Livingstone to return with him to London the explorer vowed to continue his original mission.Livingstone died 18 months later in todays Zambia his body was embalmed and returned to Britain where he was buried in Westminster Abbey.
As for Stanley he returned to Africa to fulfill a promise he had made to Livingstone to find the source of the Nile.He later damaged his reputation by accepting money from King Leopold II of Belgium to help create the Belgian-ruled Congo Free State and promote the slave trade.When he left Africa Stanley resumed his British citizenship and even served in Parliament but when he died he was refused burial in Westminster Abbey because of his actions in the Congo Free State.
