-
Born
David Livingstone was born in Blantyre, 19th March 1813
David Livingston Birthplace Project - Learning Resources -
Began working at Blantyre Cotton Mill
At 10 years old Livingstone began working at Blantyre Cotton Mill.
He worked 14 hours a day, 6 days a week.
He then attended school for 2 hours.
His day would start at 6am and finish at 10pm! Factory Life -
Period: to
Studied
Livingstone Studied Medicine and Theology at Anderson College. (Now known as University of Strathclyde)
Livingstone Graduated in 1840 as a Doctor and a Minister. Religion -
Met Robert Moffat & Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton
Livingston had a chance meeting with Sir Thomas Robert Moffat who was lecturing for the London Missionary Society and Thomas Fowell Buxton who conducted a lecture on the slave trade in Africa.
It was these two men who helped to persuade Livingstone to travel to Africa for missionary work. -
First trip to Africa
Livingstone Traveled to the Kuruman mission in Northern Cape Town, South Africa in his first missionary service. Livingstone traveled north to Bakwains - this is where he met Chief Sechele, is only convert to Christianity in his time as a missionary. Conservation -
Established his own mission
Livingstone was sent to Mabotsa to start his own mission -
'Fought' a Lion & met Mary Moffat
Livingston was attacked by a lion after getting too close.
His servant, tried to shoot at the lion but missed and was also attacked. Another African tried to help by distracting the lion, but that caused the lion to attack him. The lion was shot and the three wounded men were taken to recover.
There is now a bronze statue in Blantyre to commemorate this event. While Livingstone was recovering from his injuries he met Mary Moffat who he would later marry. -
-
Becomes full time Explorer
Discovers Lake Ngami with William Cotton Oswell Discovering Lake Ngami -
Reaches upper Zambezi River for the first time
-
Mary goes back to England
Mary returns to England with their children -
Period: to
Crosses southern Africa from coast to coast
he travels 4,300 miles from Cape of Good Hope to Linyanti in Zambia, and onto Loanda on the west coast.
He was the first European to make this journey.
Livingstone's Journey -
Discovered Victoria Falls
Livingstone discovers an amazing waterfall on Zambia River.
This was called Most-oa-Tunya, however he renamed the waterfall Victoria Falls after British Queen Victoria. Discovery of Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls -
Returns to England
Livingston receives a hero’s welcome—and the gold medal from the Royal Geographic Society -
Publishes his first book
Publishes: Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa. -
Period: to
Zambezi Expedition
The British Government fund an expedition for Livingstone to travel back to Africa and find a trade route along the Zambezi River.
However this does not go to plan and he is unable to find a suitable route.
Zambezi Mission -
Mary Moffat Dies
Mary joins her husband on the Zambezi and dies almost immediately -
Recalled Zambezi Mission
The government are unhappy that Livingstone has not made good on his promises and recalls the mission.
The entire trip was deemed a huge failure. -
Publishes second book
Livingstone publishes Narrative of an Expedition to the Zambezi and its Tributaries -
Last Trip to Africa
Funded by the Royal Geographical Society Livingstone traveled back to Africa to find the source of the Nile.
Quest for the Nile -
Meets Henry M Stanley
After no one hears from Livingstone American Journalist Henry M Stanley travels to Africa in each of him. After around 4 months of searching he encounters Livingstone on the Eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika and utters the now famous phrase: "Dr Livingstone, I presume?" -
Witnessed Nyangwe Massacare
In July of 1871 Livingstone witness the Massacre at the Town of Nyangwe, Arab slavers began to shoot at the African villagers, they had nowhere to run except into the Lualaba River, hundreds of people drowned. Livingstone was so appalled by the atrocity that he wrote about the event to make sure it would be recorded in history. The British tabloids published his writing. Livingstone's Diary entry Examined -
Zanzabar Slave Market was shut down
Livingstone's publications in the British press of the Nyangwe Masacarehelped to prompt a change in British policy. Closing the Zanzibar slave market. Livingstone's impact -
Died
Livingstone died near Lake Bangweulu in Chitambo's Village.
He was found at the side of his bed on his knees with his head in his hands, some say that he was prying as he passed.
Abdullah Susi & James Chumna made a 10 month long journey to transport his body to Zanzibar, where its was sent back to Britain for Burial. Try searching for Lake Bangweulu on google earth, can you find the Chitambo's Villiage? -
Burial
The streets were lined with hundreds of people on the day of his funeral, many sobbing with grief. David Livingstone was buried at Westminster Abby on the 18th April 1874. After his death
