When Scotland’s top explorer reached Victoria Falls

1855

David Livingstone

On this day in 1855, Scotland’s most famous explorer, David Livingstone reached Victoria Falls in Africa.

Born in Blantyre on 19 March, 1813, heroic Livingstone died in north-eastern Zambia on 1 May, 1873.

Livingstone gained almost mythic “celebrity” status in 19th - century Britain as a scientific investigator and explorer. He is still revered as one of the great European explorers of Africa.

David Livingstone Memorial at Blantyre Lanarkshire - World Fountain in foreground

His belief that Africa’s slave trade might be destroyed through “legitimate trade” and the spread of Christianity sent Livingstone on the travels that made him among the most famous Victorians before his death from malaria in 1873.