Missionary biography david livingstone wikipedia

David Livingstone (19 March 1813 – 4 May 1873) was a Scottish medical missionary with the London Missionary Society. He wanted to be a missionary, but he could not get many people to convert to Christian beliefs, so instead, he explored and charted much of southern and eastern Africa.

He gave the Victoria Falls their name. He named them after his queen, Queen Victoria.

In Africa

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As an explorer, Livingstone had some advantages. He usually travelled lightly, and he was able to reassure chiefs that he was not a threat.

Other expeditions had many soldiers armed with rifles, and even more people hired to carry supplies.

Missionary biography david livingstone wikipedia romana

They were often seen as military incursions or were mistaken for slave-raiding parties. Livingstone travelled on most of his journeys with a few servants and porters, bartering for supplies along the way. He only had a couple of guns for protection.

He preached a Christian message but did not force it on unwilling ears.