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
David McDonald
Role on the lost expedition: Petty officer on SS Terror. See John Franklin.
1 memorial
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...
1 memorial
George Williams
Role on the lost expedition: Able seaman on SS Erebus. See John Franklin.
1 memorial
James Reid
Role on the lost expedition: Officer on SS Erebus. See John Franklin.
1 memorial
William Hedges
Role on the lost expedition: Royal marine on SS Terror. See John Franklin.
1 memorial
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