Henry M. Stanley

Henry Morton Stanley was a Welsh journalist and explorer who made a significant impact on the exploration of Africa. Born John Rowlands in Denbigh, Wales in 1841, he had a difficult upbringing and immigrated to the United States at the age of 18. He worked as a journalist during the American Civil War before venturing to Africa on an expedition in search of David Livingstone for the New York Herald in 1869. After many months of arduous travel, Stanley finally found Livingstone in 1871 and famously greeted him with the words, "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?" The two explorers spent several months together before Stanley returned to Europe to publish his account of the expedition. He continued his exploration of Africa, leading several expeditions. Stanley also was a key figure in the creation of the independent Congo state, serving as it's first governor. In this respect Stanley played a significant role at the Berlin Conference of 1884-85, at which during the conference, Stanley argued strongly in favor for the establishment of free trade zones in the region. Stanley died in 1904 at the age of 63, but his legacy in the field of exploration and mapping is enduring.