Person    | Male  Born 28/1/1841  Died 10/5/1904

Sir Henry Morton Stanley

Explorer and journalist, born as John Rowlands at Denbigh, Wales. Illegitimate and brought up in a workhouse, he sailed to America as a cabin boy in 1859. He befriended a trader called Henry Hope Stanley and eventually adopted his name. Fought for the confederate army in the American civil war. Becoming a journalist with the New York Herald, he travelled to Africa, where in 1871 he traced Doctor David Livingstone. Whether he actually said 'Doctor Livingstone, I presume?' is in question, as he tore out of his diary the relevant pages for the event. Knighted 1899. He died at 2 Richmond Terrace.
The boy in the photograph is Kalulu who Morton adopted as his gun bearer and servant.

Given his role in the American civil war, his association with King Leopold and his time in Africa it is not surprising that he has been accused of racism. Of course we are judging with current standards, and reports from the time differ but if some of them are true the general view of Stanley as a brave hero needs adjusting.

2021: The residents of Denbigh voted on the possible removal of Stanley's statue from Hall Square where it was placed only about 10 years ago. And overwhelming support means it will remain.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Sir Henry Morton Stanley

Commemorated ati

Sir Henry Morton Stanley

Greater London Council Sir Henry Morton Stanley, 1841-1904, explorer and writ...

Read More

Other Subjects

Francis Dunn

Francis Dunn

Role on the lost expedition: Petty officer on SS Erebus. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial
Captain Matthew Flinders

Captain Matthew Flinders

Explorer and navigator of the Australian seas. Born in Donington, Lincolnshire. Invented the Flinders Bar, a device for counteracting the vertical component of a ship's magnetic field, and gave Aus...

Person, Exploring, Australia

2 memorials
David McDonald

David McDonald

Role on the lost expedition: Petty officer on SS Terror. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial
Sir Ernest Shackleton

Sir Ernest Shackleton

Born Kilkee, county Clare, Ireland. He led several Antarctic expeditions and located the South magnetic pole during his voyage of 1907-1909. Died of a heart attach on a voyage to the South Atlantic...

Person, Exploring, Arctic & Antarctic, Ireland

3 memorials
Cornelius Hickey

Cornelius Hickey

Role on the lost expedition: Petty officer on SS Terror. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial