Mungo Park
1771–1806 · Scottish (Foulshiels) · Georgian Era
Known for: First European to explore the Niger River in West Africa—his account became a bestseller before he died trying to trace the river to its end
Park was a Scottish surgeon who made two expeditions to trace the Niger River. On his first, he was robbed, imprisoned, and nearly died of fever—but confirmed the Niger flows eastward. His Travels in the Interior of Africa became a sensation.
On his second expedition, most of his 40-man party died of disease before reaching the Niger. Park was killed by hostile locals at the rapids of Bussa, probably while trying to fight his way through. He was brave, stubborn, and deeply curious about African cultures.
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