Naturalist, Explorer, Diplomat. He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh before joining the civil medical staff during the Crimean War. In 1858 he was made the physician and naturalist on David Livingstone's second expedition to Central Africa. He accompanied Livingstone for the next five years, and in 1859 became one of the first four Europeans to reach Lake Nyassa. Ill health forced him to return to Britain in 1863, but in 1866 he was appointed acting surgeon to the political agency at Zanzibar. He was promoted to consul-general in 1873 and then agent in 1880, and was instrumental in securing the abolition of slavery from Sultan Seyyid Bargash. He later used his influence with Bargash to gain a lease of territory to Britain, which led to the foundation of British East Africa. His later life was spent in various diplomatic roles, including attending the Brussels Slavery Slave Conference and sitting on the committee for the construction of the Uganda Railway. He had a lasting reputation as a naturalist, and published many academic articles. Many African plants and animals were named in his honour, including a lemur, an antelope and clematis.
Naturalist, Explorer, Diplomat. He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh before joining the civil medical staff during the Crimean War. In 1858 he was made the physician and naturalist on David Livingstone's second expedition to Central Africa. He accompanied Livingstone for the next five years, and in 1859 became one of the first four Europeans to reach Lake Nyassa. Ill health forced him to return to Britain in 1863, but in 1866 he was appointed acting surgeon to the political agency at Zanzibar. He was promoted to consul-general in 1873 and then agent in 1880, and was instrumental in securing the abolition of slavery from Sultan Seyyid Bargash. He later used his influence with Bargash to gain a lease of territory to Britain, which led to the foundation of British East Africa. His later life was spent in various diplomatic roles, including attending the Brussels Slavery Slave Conference and sitting on the committee for the construction of the Uganda Railway. He had a lasting reputation as a naturalist, and published many academic articles. Many African plants and animals were named in his honour, including a lemur, an antelope and clematis.
Bio by: js
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