Henry Morton Stanley was an adventurous spirit, much like other English explorers of his era. Originally from Wales, he moved to the United States in 1859, just before the American Civil War. In America, he met a stranger who became a father figure to him, leading him to adopt the name “Stanley,” leaving behind his birth name, John Rowlands.
Stanley initially found work in New Orleans but soon found himself caught up in the Civil War. He fought for the Confederate Army, deserted the Union Army, and later worked as a ship’s writer for the Federal Navy. Eventually, he transitioned into journalism, reporting from the American West and even traveling to the Ottoman Empire, where he briefly clashed with local authorities.
Stanley’s big break came when he decided to impress the New York Herald, a leading American newspaper. He left his job as an editor in Missouri and pitched his ideas to James Gordon Bennett Jr., the paper’s publisher. Although initially dismissed, Stanley convinced Bennett to fund his coverage of a British military expedition in Ethiopia, known as the Battle of Magdala.
On October 16, 1869, Stanley proposed a daring mission to Bennett: he would find the missing British missionary explorer David Livingstone, who had vanished in central Africa. Livingstone had been missing for two years in what is now Tanzania, over 700 miles from the coast. At 30, Stanley set off in March 1871 with over a hundred men and three caravans of supplies.
Stanley faced numerous challenges, including starvation, hostile tribes, and disease. Despite these obstacles, he famously declared, “No living man shall stop me; only death can prevent me.” After a grueling seven-month journey, Stanley reached Lake Tanganyika and found Livingstone in poor health. The famous line “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” is often attributed to Stanley, though it may be a later embellishment.
After ensuring Livingstone’s safety, Stanley returned to England and published “How I Found Livingstone.” His success was met with mixed reactions, especially from the Royal Geographical Society, which was unhappy that an American had rescued their explorer. After Livingstone’s death, Stanley became a prominent figure in African exploration.
In 1874, Stanley returned to Africa with funding from the New York Herald and the Daily Telegraph. His goal was to map the African Great Lakes and rivers, including Lakes Victoria and Tanganyika, and to find the source of the Nile. Although he initially succeeded, he ultimately identified the Congo River instead of the Nile.
Stanley’s third African expedition tarnished his reputation. King Leopold II of Belgium initially approached him, and Stanley eventually agreed to lead an expedition in the Congo Basin. Unbeknownst to Stanley, Leopold intended to exploit the region for personal gain. Despite facing hardships like disease and hunger, Stanley earned the nickname “Breaker of Rocks.”
When Stanley discovered Leopold’s true intentions, he was shocked and expressed concerns about the autonomy of the Congolese tribes. However, Leopold dismissed his objections and destroyed treaties Stanley had negotiated.
In January 1887, Stanley embarked on a final expedition to rescue an Egyptian governor. Facing logistical challenges, he made the controversial decision to split his expedition, leading to tragic consequences for those left behind. The rear guard faced dire conditions, resulting in abuses against local populations, further damaging Stanley’s reputation.
After this expedition, Stanley retired, married, and adopted a son. He was knighted in 1899, becoming Sir Henry Morton Stanley, and spent his later years in Surrey with his family. Despite his achievements, Stanley remains a debated figure in the history of exploration, remembered for both his daring adventures and the controversies that followed him.
Research the historical context of the American Civil War and its impact on individuals like Henry Morton Stanley. Prepare a short presentation to share with the class, focusing on how the war influenced Stanley’s career path and decisions.
Engage in a role-playing debate about Stanley’s legacy. Divide into two groups: one defending his contributions to exploration and the other critiquing his actions in the Congo. Use historical evidence to support your arguments.
Create a detailed map tracing Stanley’s expeditions in Africa. Highlight key locations such as Lake Tanganyika and the Congo River. Include annotations explaining the significance of each location in Stanley’s journeys.
Write a creative diary entry from the perspective of Henry Morton Stanley during one of his expeditions. Describe the challenges he faced and his motivations, using historical details to bring the entry to life.
Watch a documentary about Henry Morton Stanley’s life and expeditions. After viewing, write a reflection on how the documentary portrays his achievements and controversies, and discuss how it aligns with or differs from the article.
**Henry Morton Stanley**
Henry Morton Stanley was, like many English explorers of his time, a rather enterprising individual. After emigrating from Wales to the United States in the spring of 1859, just before the American Civil War broke out, Stanley was taken under the wing of a stranger who later became a father figure to him. This relationship led Stanley to adopt the name “Stanley,” replacing his birth name, John Rowlands.
Stanley found manual work in New Orleans but was soon pressured to join the Civil War against the Southern secession. He fought for the Confederate Army, deserted the Union Army, and worked as a ship’s writer for the Federal Navy before transitioning into journalism. He took his reporting into the American West before traveling overseas to the Ottoman Empire, where he faced brief imprisonment after clashing with local Turks.
Stanley’s true claim to fame came when he decided to impress one of the most well-known newspapers in America, the New York Herald. Leaving his job as an editor for the Missouri Democrat, he traveled to New York and pitched his idea to James Gordon Bennett Jr., the newspaper’s young and imperious publisher. Initially dismissed, Stanley eventually convinced Bennett to fund his coverage of the British expedition against Emperor Theodore of Ethiopia, which would become known as the Battle of Magdala.
On October 16, 1869, Stanley made a bold proposal to Bennett: he would find the famed British missionary explorer David Livingstone, who had vanished in what is now Tanzania. Livingstone had been missing for two years in central Africa, over 700 miles from the eastern coast, in one of the few parts of the world that had yet to be mapped. At 30 years old, Stanley embarked on his journey towards Lake Tanganyika in March 1871, equipped with over a hundred men and three caravans filled with supplies.
Despite the challenges he faced, including starvation, hostile tribes, and disease, Stanley persevered. He famously wrote, “No living man shall stop me; only death can prevent me.” Meanwhile, Livingstone was in dire straits, suffering from severe health issues. After a seven-month trek, Stanley finally reached Lake Tanganyika, where he found Livingstone in poor condition. Although the famous line “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” is often attributed to Stanley, it is likely a dramatization added later.
After ensuring Livingstone’s safety and sending him supplies, Stanley returned to England, where he published “How I Found Livingstone.” His success was met with mixed reactions, particularly from the Royal Geographical Society, which was displeased that an American had to rescue their star explorer. Following Livingstone’s death, Stanley positioned himself as a leading figure in African exploration.
Stanley’s return to Africa in 1874 was backed by funding from the New York Herald and the Daily Telegraph. He aimed to map the African Great Lakes and rivers, including circumnavigating Lakes Victoria and Tanganyika and locating the source of the Nile. His efforts were initially successful, but he ultimately identified the Congo River instead of the Nile.
Stanley’s third African expedition would significantly tarnish his reputation. Initially approached by King Leopold II of Belgium, Stanley declined but eventually agreed to lead an expedition in the Congo Basin. Unbeknownst to him, Leopold’s true intention was to exploit the region for personal gain. Throughout the expedition, Stanley faced numerous hardships, including disease and hunger, but he persevered, earning the nickname “Breaker of Rocks.”
When Stanley discovered Leopold’s true ambitions, he was shocked and expressed his concerns about the autonomy of the Congolese tribes. However, Leopold dismissed his objections and destroyed treaties negotiated by Stanley.
In January 1887, Stanley returned to Africa for a final expedition to rescue an Egyptian governor. Faced with logistical challenges, he made a controversial decision to split his expedition, which ultimately led to tragic consequences for those left behind. The rear guard of his expedition faced dire conditions, resulting in abuses against local populations, further damaging Stanley’s reputation.
Following this expedition, Stanley retired, married, and adopted a son. He was knighted in 1899, becoming Sir Henry Morton Stanley, and spent his later years at a small estate in Surrey with his family. Despite his achievements, Stanley remains a debated figure in the history of exploration.
Explorer – A person who investigates unknown regions or areas, often for the purpose of discovery and mapping. – The explorer set out on a journey to chart the uncharted territories of the Amazon rainforest.
Africa – The second-largest continent, known for its diverse cultures, languages, and geographical features. – Africa’s rich history includes ancient civilizations such as Egypt and Carthage.
Expedition – A journey undertaken by a group of people with a particular purpose, especially that of exploration, research, or war. – The expedition to the South Pole was fraught with challenges but ultimately successful in reaching its goal.
Livingstone – Referring to David Livingstone, a renowned British explorer and missionary known for his explorations in Africa. – David Livingstone’s travels across Africa greatly contributed to Western knowledge of the continent’s geography.
Journalism – The activity or profession of writing for newspapers, magazines, or news websites, or preparing news to be broadcast. – Journalism played a crucial role in documenting the events of the Civil Rights Movement in America.
Geography – The study of the physical features of the Earth and its atmosphere, and of human activity as it affects and is affected by these. – Understanding geography is essential for analyzing the impact of climate change on different regions.
Lakes – Large bodies of water surrounded by land, often significant for their ecological and economic importance. – The Great Lakes of North America are among the largest freshwater systems in the world.
Congo – A major river in Central Africa, as well as the name of two countries through which it flows: the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo. – The Congo River is vital for transportation and trade in Central Africa.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – The history of the Roman Empire provides insights into the rise and fall of great civilizations.
America – A continent comprising North, Central, and South America, known for its diverse cultures and significant historical events. – The discovery of America by European explorers marked the beginning of a new era in world history.
