Written by Phineas Upham,
In November of 1871, a weary Henry Morton Stanley was making his way through South Africa in search of Dr. Livingstone. The story goes that he arrived in the town of Ujiji, and seeing the only white person for miles, approached the man and simply asked him, “Dr. Livingstone I presume?” Actual records of the meeting make no mention of this historic phrase, but the life of Dr. Livingstone goes far deeper than this quote. The man who found Victoria Falls lived prolifically among African villagers.
The Nile
Dr. Livingstone had, for years, been exploring the deepest parts of Africa. It was a combination of factors that forced him to pivot on his exploration strategies and make some premature conclusions. With his medicines stolen, his crew deserting him at every turn, and declining health he mistakenly concluded that the Lualaba River was actually the Nile (which Western explorers had not yet reached.)
Slavery
That expedition put Livingstone front and center for an event that would change his life forever. In July of 1871, angered by poor deals, Livingstone witnessed slave traders massacre over 400 people. The event so thoroughly shocked him that he would continue to denounce slavery until his death, writing poignantly about the horrors he witnessed first-hand.
Discoveries
Livingstone was awarded the highest honor of the Royal Geographic Society for his work in exploring Africa. Livingstone’s numerous expeditions uncovered places like Victoria Falls and helped fill in details about parts of Africa that had gone previously unknown.
Phineas Upham is an investor from NYC and SF. You may contact Phineas on his Phineas Upham website
