Flegel

Flegel, EDWARD ROBERT, born of German parentage at Wilna, in Russia, 13th October 1855, made it the principal object of his life to acquire for Germany the preponderating share of the commerce of the Niger. His first ascent of this river was made in 1879, in the steamer of the London Missionary Society, and his second a year later, when he reached Sokoto by a left-hand tributary of the river. But his next journey, in 1883, was the most fruitful in results, for during the course of it he discovered the sources of the Benuë, to the south of Adamawa. After a short visit to Europe, he again started for Africa in April 1885, having been commissioned by the German African Society and Colonial Company to explore the country stretching between the sources of the Benuë and the Cameroons; it was also his intention to penetrate from the Benuë to the Congo, but he was suddenly struck down by death, near the mouth of the Niger, on 11th September 1886.