# Henry Morton Stanley

> British journalist and explorer (1841–1904)

**Wikidata**: [Q171421](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q171421)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Morton_Stanley)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/henry-morton-stanley

## Summary
Henry Morton Stanley was a British journalist and explorer (1841–1904) most famous for his search and successful rescue of Scottish missionary David Livingstone in Africa, which he documented in his book "How I Found Livingstone."

## Biography
- Born: 1841-01-28 (source: P569)
- Nationality: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (source: P271, citizenship: Q174193)
- Education: Not explicitly detailed in source material
- Known for: British journalist and explorer who searched for and found David Livingstone in Africa
- Employer(s): Not explicitly detailed in source material
- Field(s): Journalism, exploration, writing

## Contributions
- Published "How I Found Livingstone" documenting his search for and rescue of Scottish missionary David Livingstone in Africa
- Received the Vega Medal for achievements in geography and anthropology
- Received the Patron's Medal from the Royal Geographical Society
- Received the Grande Médaille d'Or des Explorations for French geography award
- His work contributed to the understanding of central African geography and the fate of David Livingstone

## FAQs
- **What was Henry Morton Stanley's most famous achievement?** He is most famous for his 1871 expedition to Africa where he successfully located and rescued Scottish missionary David Livingstone, documenting the journey in his book "How I Found Livingstone."
- **Where is Henry Morton Stanley buried?** He is buried at St Michael and All Angels Church in Pirbright, as indicated by the grave marker photographed in May 2014.
- **What awards did Henry Morton Stanley receive?** He received the Vega Medal from Sweden for geography and anthropology achievements, the Patron's Medal from the Royal Geographical Society, and the Grande Médaille d'Or des Explorations from France.
- **What was Henry Morton Stanley's birth name?** His birth name was John Rowlands, as indicated by the alias provided in the source material.

## Why They Matter
Henry Morton Stanley's search for and successful rescue of David Livingstone had significant impact on the field of exploration and African geography. His detailed documentation of the journey provided crucial information about central Africa's geography, population, and resources. His work helped establish the credibility of scientific exploration and contributed to the understanding of the African continent during a period of European colonial expansion. Without his expedition, the fate of Livingstone would have remained unknown, and the detailed geographical and ethnographic information he collected would not have been available.

## Notable For
- First person to locate and rescue Scottish missionary David Livingstone in Africa (1871)
- Received the Vega Medal from Sweden for geographical and anthropological achievements
- Awarded the Patron's Medal from the Royal Geographical Society
- Received the Grande Médaille d'Or des Explorations from France
- Published "How I Found Livingstone" documenting the expedition
- Knighted for his services as an explorer and administrator

## Body
### Early Life and Career Beginnings
Henry Morton Stanley was born on January 28, 1841, in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. His birth name was John Rowlands, though he later adopted the name Henry Morton Stanley. The exact place of his birth is not specified in the source material, though his citizenship was recorded as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

### Journalistic Career
Stanley began his career as a journalist in the United Kingdom. He worked for various publications and developed a reputation as a skilled reporter. His work in journalism prepared him for the adventurous expeditions that would follow his career.

### The Search for Livingstone
In 1869, Stanley was commissioned by the New York Herald to find the Scottish missionary David Livingstone, who had been missing in central Africa for several years. This expedition became one of the most famous exploration journeys of the 19th century.

### The Expedition and Discovery
Stanley's expedition began in 1871 and covered thousands of miles through uncharted territory in central Africa. On November 10, 1871, Stanley found Livingstone at Ujiji on the shore of Lake Tanganyika. The famous meeting was documented in Stanley's book "How I Found Livingstone," published in 1872.

### Later Explorations and Administration
After his successful search for Livingstone, Stanley continued his explorations in Africa. He explored the Congo River basin and established the Congo Free State as a trading post. He served as the governor of the Congo Free State from 1884 to 1886.

### Legacy and Recognition
Stanley's work had lasting impacts on African exploration and geography. His detailed accounts of the African interior provided valuable information about the continent's geography, wildlife, and indigenous populations. He received numerous honors for his achievements, including the Vega Medal from Sweden, the Patron's Medal from the Royal Geographical Society, and the Grande Médaille d'Or des Explorations from France.

### Death and Burial
Henry Morton Stanley died on May 10, 1904. He is buried at St Michael and All Angels Church in Pirbright, as indicated by the grave marker photographed in May 2014. His grave is marked with a photograph that documents his final resting place.

### Publications and Legacy
Stanley authored several books documenting his explorations, including "How I Found Livingstone" and "Through the Dark Continent." His writings provided important insights into African geography and culture during a period of significant European interest in the continent. His work influenced subsequent explorers and contributed to the growing understanding of Africa's interior.

### Awards and Honors
Throughout his career, Stanley received numerous awards recognizing his contributions to exploration and geography. These included:
- The Vega Medal from Sweden for achievements in geography and anthropology
- The Patron's Medal from the Royal Geographical Society
- The Grande Médaille d'Or des Explorations from France

These honors recognized his significant contributions to the field of exploration and his detailed documentation of African geography and cultures.

## References

1. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
2. Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978)
3. BnF authorities
4. Dictionary of African Biography
5. Integrated Authority File
6. [MARRIAGE OF MR. H. M. STANLEY.. Berkshire Chronicle. 1890](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000358/18900719/156/0007)
7. Hansard 1803–2005
8. The Peerage
9. Library of the World's Best Literature
10. Gold Medal Recipients
11. International Standard Name Identifier
12. Virtual International Authority File
13. CiNii Research
14. MusicBrainz
15. [Source](http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/a/A13530954)
16. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
17. SNAC
18. Find a Grave
19. Discogs
20. Biographical Database of Southern African Science
21. [Brockhaus Enzyklopädie](https://brockhaus.de/ecs/julex/article/stanley-henry-morton)
22. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
23. Roglo
24. Babelio
25. [Geographicus Rare Antique Maps biographical dictionary of cartographers](https://www.geographicus.com/P/RareMaps/stanleyhenrymorton)
26. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
27. [Source](https://www.bartleby.com/library/bios/index15.html)
28. [BnF authorities](http://data.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb11925428z)
29. CONOR.SI
30. Autoritats UB
31. Quora
32. [Source](http://purl.org/pressemappe20/beaconlist/pe)
33. [LIBRIS. 2012](https://libris.kb.se/katalogisering/31fhjbxm46v224b)
34. GF WordNet
35. Catalogo of the National Library of India