Livingstone, DAVID, missionary and traveller, was born at Blantyre in Lanarkshire, 19th March 1813. His parents, who were in humble life, were of devout and exemplary character; his father in particular being a great reader, especially of travels and missionary intelligence, and much interested in the enterprise of the 19th century. At the age of ten David became a worker in a cotton-factory at Blantyre, and continued in that laborious occupation for fourteen years. His thirst for knowledge led him to read all that he could lay his hands on; he used also to attend a night-class, after the long hours of the factory, for the study of Latin. The reading of Dick's Philosophy of a Future State was not only the means of a profound impression on his own mind, but kindled the desire to devote his life as a missionary to the service of Christ. Deeply impressed with the advantages of medical training to a missionary, he resolved to qualify himself in medicine, as well as the other attainments looked for in a missionary. The London Missionary Society having accepted the offer of his services, he went to London to complete his studies. His first desire was to labour in China, but, war having broken out between that country and Great Britain, this wish could not be fulfilled. The Rev. Robert Moffat's visit at this time to England turned many hearts to Africa—Livingstone's among the rest; ultimately he was appointed to that field, and, having been ordained on 20th November 1840, he set sail for Africa, reaching Lattakoo or Kuruman, Moffat's settlement, on 31st July 1841.
For several years Livingstone laboured as a missionary in the Bechuana country, at Mabotse, Chonwana, and Kolobeng, places that were chosen by him just because they were in the heart of heathenism. The conversion of Sechélé, chief of the Bakwains, and several of his tribe was a great encouragement. Repulsed by the Boers in an effort to plant native missionaries in the Transvaal, he directed his steps northward, discovered Lake Ngami, and found the country there traversed by fine rivers and inhabited by a dense population. His anxiety to benefit this region led finally to his undertaking to explore the whole country westwards to the Atlantic at St Paul de Loanda and eastward to the Indian Ocean at Quilimane. Livingstone had married at Mabotse Mary, eldest daughter of the Rev. R. Moffat, and now he found it necessary to send her, with their children, to England, that he might be free for this vast and perilous undertaking. To accomplish it occupied from 8th June 1852, when he left Capetown, to 26th May 1856, when he arrived at Quilimane. This journey was accomplished with a mere handful of followers, and a mere pittance of stores, amid sicknesses and other bodily troubles, perils, and difficulties without number. But a vast amount of valuable information was gathered respecting the country and its products, its geography and natural history, the native tribes, the regions that were favourable to health, and some great natural wonders, such as the Zambesi Falls. Livingstone, however, found that the London Missionary Society were not willing that he should be so large an extent an explorer, and some time after returning to Britain he resigned his office as one of their missionaries.
At home Livingstone was welcomed with extraordinary enthusiasm, receiving the acknowledgments and honours of scientific societies, universities, town-councils, and other public bodies in every quarter of the country. In addition to these tokens of honour the fifteen months spent at home were signalised by three things: the writing of his book, Missionary Travels (1857), which was received with the liveliest interest; his visit to Cambridge, awakening the enthusiasm of many of the students, and leading to the formation afterwards of the 'Universities Mission;' and his appointment by Her Majesty's government as chief of an expedition for exploring the Zambesi and its tributaries and the regions adjacent.
On this expedition Livingstone set out on 10th March 1858. While successful in many ways, it led to not a little disappointment. Livingstone explored the Zambesi, the Shiré, and the Rovuma; discovered lakes Shirwa and Nyassa, and came to a decided conclusion that Lake Nyassa and its neighbourhood was the best field for both commercial and missionary operations. His disappointments arose from the grievous defects of a steamer sent out to him by government; from the death of comrades and helpers, including his wife and Bishop Mackenzie; from the abandonment of the Universities Mission; from the opposition of the Portuguese authorities; but mainly from the distressing discovery that, encouraged by Portuguese traders, the slave-trade was extending in the district, and the slave-traders using his very discoveries to facilitate their infamous traffic. At length a despatch recalling the expedition was received, 2d July 1863. Livingstone at his own cost had brought out a new steamer, but she could not be put on the lake. Depressed though he was, he explored the northern banks of Lake
Nyassa on foot; then in his own vessel and under his own seamanship crossed the Indian Ocean to Bombay; and after a brief stay there, returned to Britain, reaching London on 23d July 1864.
At home Livingstone had two objects—to expose the atrocious deeds of the Portuguese slave-traders, and to find means of establishing a settlement for missions and commerce somewhere near the head of the Rovuma, or wherever a suitable locality could be found. His second book, The Zambesi and its Tributaries (1865), was designed to further these objects. He was again received with every demonstration of honour and regard. A proposal was made to him on the part of the Royal Geographical Society to return to Africa and settle a disputed question regarding the watershed of central Africa and the sources of the Nile. He said he would go only as a missionary, but was willing to help to solve the geographical problem. He set out in August 1865, via Bombay and Zanzibar. On 19th March 1866 he started from the latter place, first of all trying to find a suitable settlement, then striking westward in order to solve the geographical problem. Through the ill-behaviour of some of his attendants a report of his death was circulated, but an expedition headed by Mr E. D. Young, R.N., ascertained that the report was false. Livingstone pressed westward amid innumerable hardships, and in 1869 discovered Lakes Meoro and Bangweolo. All the while he was doing what he could for the religious enlightenment of the natives. Obligated to return for rest to Ujiji, where he found his goods squandered, he struck westward again as far as the river Lualaba, thinking it might possibly be the Nile, but far from certain that it was not what it proved afterwards to be, the Congo. Returning after severe illness once more to Ujiji, Livingstone found Mr H. M. Stanley there, who had been sent to look for him by the proprietor of the New York Herald. But no consideration would induce him to return home till he had made one more effort to solve the geographical problem. He returned to Lake Bangweolo, but fell into wretched health. His sufferings always increasing, when he reached Chitambo's village in Ilala he was obliged to give in. On the morning of 1st May 1873 he was found by his attendants on his knees, dead. His faithful people embalmed his body as best they could, carried it amidst the greatest perils to the shore, where it was put on board a British cruiser, and on 18th April 1874 it was buried in Westminster Abbey. Among the remains brought home were his Last Journals, brought down to within a few days of his death; these were published in 1874. Stanley suggested the name of Livingstone for the main stream of the Congo (hence the Baptist Mission on the Lower Congo was called the 'Livingstone Inland Mission'), and Mr H. H. Johnston proposed that part of the East African territory acquired by Britain in 1890—the lower drainage area of the Zambesi—should be called Livingstone Land.
See Professor Blaikie's Personal Life of David Livingstone (1880); the short Life by Thomas Hughes (1889); and Sir H. H. Johnston, Livingstone and the Exploration of Central Africa (1891).