John Hanning Speke
English explorer who first reached Lake Victoria.
John Hanning Speke (4 May 1827 – 15 September 1864) served as an English army officer and explorer, undertaking three African expeditions. His fame rests largely on the quest for the Nile’s source, and he became the first European to set eyes on Lake Victoria.
Speke was born at Orleigh Court in Buckland Brewer, near Bideford, North Devon. His father was William Speke, and his uncle was John Hanning.
In 1844, he joined the Bengal Army as a commissioned officer, posted to British India. He served under Sir Hugh Gough during the Punjab campaign and the First Anglo-Sikh War, as part of the 46th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry. Promoted to lieutenant in 1850 and brevet major in 1850, he used his leave to explore the Himalayas and Mount Everest, though his travels were limited to the Indian side.
His first African voyage came in 1854. He arrived in Aden to join an expedition led by the already famous Richard Burton, which included Lt William Stroyan and Lt Herne. A recent death had left the group one person short, and Speke was accepted due to his experience travelling alone in remote areas, his skill in collecting and preserving natural history specimens, and his ability to do astronomical surveying. The party split: Burton went to Harrar in Abyssinia, while Speke headed to Wadi Nogal in Somalia. During this leg, Speke’s local guide cheated him; after both men returned to Aden, Burton saw the guide punished, jailed, and killed—an incident that likely fuelled later troubles. The four then gathered at Berbera on the Somali coast, planning to trek inland toward the Ogaden.
While camped outside Berbera, they were attacked at night by about 50 Somalis armed with spears. In the chaos, Speke ducked under a tent flap to get a better view; Burton, thinking he was retreating, called for him to stand firm. Speke did so, charging forward and shooting several attackers. This misunderstanding laid the groundwork for their later disputes and mutual dislike. Stroyan was killed by a spear, Burton was seriously wounded when a javelin pierced both cheeks, Speke was wounded and captured, and Herne escaped unharmed. Tied up
- born
- 4 May 1827
- died
- 15 September 1864
- field
- Exploration, army officer
- nationality
- English
- known_for
- First European to reach Lake Victoria; search for the source of the Nile
Lore & Background
Speke was born on 4 May 1827 at Orleigh Court, Buckland Brewer, near Bideford, North Devon. In 1844 he was commissioned into the Bengal Army and posted to British India, serving in the 46th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry during the Punjab campaign and the First Anglo-Sikh War. He spent his leave exploring the Himalayan Mountains and Mount Everest, though his travels were limited to the Indian side.
In 1854 he made his first voyage to Africa, joining an expedition led by Richard Burton to Somalia. During a night attack by 50 spear-wielding Somalis, Speke was wounded and captured, but escaped after stabbing his attacker with a dagger. The misunderstanding during this attack laid the foundation of later disputes between Speke and Burton. In 1856, Speke and Burton went to East Africa to find the Great Lakes. On 30 July 1858, Speke became the first European to see Lake Victoria
Reader's Guide
Speke's significance lies in his role as the first European to reach Lake Victoria, a discovery that eventually led to identifying the source of the Nile. His work with Richard Burton, though marred by personal disputes and differing interpretations, opened up the interior of East Africa to European exploration and mapping. Speke's estimation of Lake Victoria's elevation at 4000 feet by observing the boiling point of water made it a more likely candidate for the Nile's source than Lake Tanganyika. The efforts of local guides Sidi Mubarak Bombay and Mabruki were instrumental in the discovery. Speke's legacy is tied to the unresolved tensions with Burton and the incomplete reconnaissance of the lake, which left questions about its size and extent unanswered at the time.
Did You Know?
- Speke had impaired vision from ophthalmia when he first reached Lake Tanganyika, but he still saw the lake.
- He became tempo
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