African explorer, missionary, popularizer of geographical science, author of numerous works - all this characterizes the great scientist David Livingstone, who throughout his life explored African lands, fought against hostile tribes and discovered new places that were not previously marked on maps.
Biography
David's childhood was spent in the small Scottish village of Blantyre. At that time, he was constantly surrounded by poverty and misery. His parents were ordinary workers and had low wages, which did not allow them to provide for the entire family. Therefore, at the age of 10, the boy had to find his own job. He was hired as an assistant foreman in a village weaving factory. David spent all the money he received on self-education.
He bought textbooks on mathematics and foreign languages, and in his free time he locked himself in his room and studied the sciences that interested him. David Livingston is self-taught, he did not have teachers, he did not attend comprehensive school. However, as an adult, he managed to get into a prestigious university thanks to his knowledge of Latin and biology. The young man began to study theological and medical sciences, and in the evenings he continued to cooperate with a weaving factory. A few years later, David successfully graduated from the university and even received a Ph. D., which allowed him to conduct his research and write scientific treatises.
Career
His career as an explorer, missionary, and research assistant began in 1840. David became the organizer of his own expedition to Africa, which lasted for 15 years. During this time, he observed the tribes, studied their habits and way of life. Often, the researcher met with enemies who tried to expel him from their territory. Local residents often refused to talk with Livingstone, but with the help of courage and charm, he still managed to delve into the life of the African people. In addition to outside supervision, David studied local languages, fought the slave trade and helped Africans in their work.
Livingston's next journey in his career was to the northern border of the Cape Colony. From this moment begins a series of his famous expeditions aimed at studying the culture of northern Africa. He first opened to the world the little-explored Kalahari Desert, introduced the scientific community to the activities of local preachers and missionaries. He also managed to become part of the Kven tribe thanks to his friendship with his leader Sechele, who appointed David the head of the Tswana tribes.
Livingston, despite the difficult conditions of existence during the course of his missions, sought to advance even further in his career. So, in 1844, he took a trip to Mabots, during which he was attacked by a lion. David received a serious injury to his left hand, and in his later life he practically could not hold a weighty load in it. But that didn't stop him. A little later, the researcher learned to shoot with the other hand and aim with his left eye.
In 1849, after recovering from his injury, Livingston launched a new study. This time he went to Lake Ngami, on the territory of which he discovered the southern swamp of Okwango. After his travels, David wrote a scientific work and received a medal of the Royal Geographical Society for it, as well as a significant monetary prize. From that time on, Livingston was recognized all over the world. In addition to his research activities, he became involved in the popularization of geographical science in Europe.
Livingstone explored Africa throughout his life. Its main goal was to open it to the whole world in all its diversity. In 1854, the explorer reached the Atlantic coast, and then, after a little rest, moved to the basin of two river basins. Nearby, he discovered the previously unknown Lake Didolo, for which he received the Gold Medal of the Geographical Society.
In 1855, he continued his journey through Africa, reached the coast of the Zambezi, next to which he saw a huge waterfall. The Europeans did not know anything about him, and the locals, far from the modern structure of the world, called him "Mosi va Tunya", which means "rumbling water". Subsequently, the waterfall was named "Victoria" in honor of the Queen of England. Now a monument to the great explorer David Livingston is erected next to it.
Another important study in Livingston's career was the study of the source of the Nile. However, during a trip to the east coast, the scientist's team encountered a local hostile tribe, so he had to go for a trick: he bypassed all the ill-wishers by another road, and on the way discovered two new African lakes. However, the researcher did not manage to establish the sources of the Nile, since at the end of the expedition his health condition deteriorated greatly. Because of this, he began to lose his previous attentiveness and ceased to navigate in an unknown space.
In the spring of 1873, during his last expedition to Africa, David Livingstone died of severe bleeding from prolonged illness.
Creation
In addition to research and travel, David was actively involved in creative activities. He organized round tables and conferences to discuss the "African issue" in an original way. Livingston gave interesting lectures, wrote stories in which he set out his impressions of travel, created important theoretical works that had a significant impact on science.
Personal life
David Livingston was monogamous. He spent his entire life with his wife Mary, who has always supported her husband and participated in many of his expeditions. During their joint travels, the couple had four children. David was not afraid to take his family on the expedition, because he believed that this would only temper the character of the children. Sometimes Livingston had to be left without food and water, surrounded by hostile tribes. Nevertheless, David always managed to negotiate with ill-wishers and find a compromise. And in 1850 Livingston, together with his wife, organized their own settlement on Lake Ngami. It was there, far from his native Great Britain, that David's family nest was.
