Explorer. Born Devon. The first European, while on an expedition with Richard Burton to East Africa in 1858, to discover Lake Victoria. On a subsequent journey with James Grant in 1862, he confirmed its northern outlet as the source of the Nile. Burton queried whether Speke really had found the source of the Nile and the two fell out. Murchison arranged a debate between them. Two days before this debate Speke left a lunch where Burton was present, to go on a partridge shoot. Climbing over a wall he shot himself. Suicide was suspected but never proved. Since his death there have been suggestions that he was a repressed homosexual, although he is known to have fathered a child in Buganda, and even that he and Burton had had an intimate relationship.
Other Subjects
Henry F. Collins
Role on the lost expedition: Officer on SS Erebus. See John Franklin.
Gertrude Bell
Traveller, archaeologist, writer and diplomat, Gertrude Margaret Lowthian Bell, CBE, explored, mapped, and became highly influential to British imperial policy-making due to her knowledge and cont...
Person, Exploring, History, Politics & Administration, Iraq, Israel/Palestine, Middle East, Syria
Rear-Admiral Sir William Edward Parry, DCL, FRS
Naval officer and arctic explorer.  Born Bath.  The Canadian Encyclopedia says "He contributed much to the eventual discovery of the Northwest Passage and the North Pole."  Lieut-Governor of Greenw...
Sir Francis Galton
Biostatistician, human geneticist and eugenicist. Born at The Larches, Sparkbrook, Birmingham, a half-cousin of Charles Darwin. An enthusiastic traveller, particularly in Africa. Darwin's publicati...
Thomas Hartnell
Role on the lost expedition: Able seaman on SS Erebus. See John Franklin.
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