Hugh Clapperton

Background

Hugh Clapperton, was born in 1788 at Annan, Dumfriesshire, where his father was a surgeon.

Education

He gained some knowledge of practical mathematics and navigation, and at thirteen was apprenticed on board a vessel which traded between Liverpool and North America.

Career

In 1817, when the flotilla on the lakes was dismantled, he returned home on half-pay.

In 1820 Clapperton removed to Edinburgh, where he made the acquaintance of Walter Oudney, M. D. , who aroused in him an interest in African travel.

Lieut. G. F. Lyon, R. N. , having returned from an unsuccessful attempt to reach Bornu from Tripoli, the British government determined on a second expedition to that country.

From Tripoli, early in 1822, they set out southward to Murzuk, and from this point Clapperton and Oudney visited the Ghat oasis.

Kuka, the capital of Bornu, was reached in February 1823, and Lake Chad seen for the first time by Europeans.

At Murmur, on the road to Kano, Oudney died (January 1824).

Clapperton continued his journey alone through Kano to Sokoto, the capital of the Fula empire, where by order of Sultan Bello he was obliged to stop, though the Niger was only five days' journey to the west.

Worn out with his travel he returned by way of Zaria and Katsena to Kuka, where he again met Denham.

The two travellers then set out.

for Tripoli, reached on the 26th of January 1825.

An account of the travels was published in 1826 under the title of Narrative of Travels and Discoveries in Northern and Central Africa in the years 1822-1824.

Immediately after his return Clapperton was raised to the rank of commander, and sent out with another expedition to Africa, the sultan Bello of Sokoto having professed his eagerness to open up trade with the west coast.

Before the month was out Pearce and Morrison were dead of fever.

Clapperton continued his journey, and, passing through the Yoruba country, in January 1826 he crossed the Niger at Bussa, the spot where Mungo Park had died twenty years before.

In July he arrived at Kano.

In July, Clapperton arrived at Kano and thence the Fulani capital Sokoto, intending to continue to Bornu and renew his acquaintance with the Hausa leader Sheikh al-Kaneimi. However, the Fulani were now at war with al-Kaneimi, and Sultan Bello refused him permission to leave. After many months' detention, afflicted by malaria, depression, and dysentery, Clapperton died, leaving his servant Richard Lander the only survivor of the expedition. Lander returned to the coast, and at Fernando Po by extraordinary coincidence met Clapperton's old antagonist, Dixon Denham, who duly relayed the news of Clapperton's demise to London.

Achievements

• Clapperton was the first European to make known from personal observation the semi-civilized Hausa countries, which he visited soon after the establishment of the Sokoto empire by the Fula.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Travels And Discoveries In Northern And Central Africa: In 1822, 1823, And 1824, Volume 1

    (This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)

  • Difficult and Dangerous Roads: Travels in Sahara and Fezzan, 1822-1825

    (Physical description; xiv, 365 p. : ill., maps ; 21 cm. N...)

References

• The Life and Exploits of Hugh Clapperton the Distinguished Voyager, Adventurer, and Discoverer (1840)