Historedia
Person

David Livingstone

Events
7
Episodes
10
Years
1840–1871

Every event in Historedia whose sources name David Livingstone, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. David Livingstone leaves Britain for Africa

    1840–1841

    Role: Missionary and Explorer

    1. 17 November 1840 – 15 March 1841 · LondonDeparture from London

      Livingstone left London on 17 November 1840 on a sailing brig bound for the Cape of Good Hope, accompanied by fellow missionaries.

  2. David Livingstone arrives at Kuruman

    1841

    Role: Missionary

    1. 1841 · Kuruman mission stationArrival at Kuruman

      David Livingstone arrived at the Kuruman mission station in 1841 for his first missionary posting.

  3. David Livingstone completes his transcontinental African journey

    1854–1856

    Role: Explorer

    1. May 1854 · LuandaStart of the Crossing

      Livingstone reached Luanda on the Atlantic in May 1854 after profound difficulties and near-death from fever, marking the western terminus of the journey.

    2. 1856 · QuelimaneCompletion of the Crossing

      Livingstone arrived at Quelimane in 1856, completing his transcontinental journey from Luanda. He had mapped most of the Zambezi river course during the expedition.

  4. David Livingstone becomes the first European to see Victoria Falls

    1855

    Role: Scottish missionary explorer

    1. November 1855 · Zambezi RiverNaming Victoria Falls

      Livingstone named the waterfall Victoria Falls after Queen Victoria, acknowledging local names like Mosi-oa-Tunya.

    2. 16 or 17 November 1855 · Livingstone IslandFirst European View

      Livingstone viewed the falls from Livingstone Island on the Zambezi, becoming the first recorded European to see them.

  5. Livingstone's Zambesi expedition reaches the African coast

    1858

    Role: Expedition Leader and Consul

    1. January 1858 · United KingdomExpedition Formation

      Livingstone agreed to lead a second Zambezi expedition with six specialist officers recruited in the UK in January 1858.

    2. May 1858 · QuelimaneArrival at Quelimane

      Livingstone's expedition arrived at Quelimane in May 1858, receiving a letter from the London Missionary Society.

  6. James Gordon Bennett Jr. commissions Henry Morton Stanley to find Livingstone

    1869

    Role: Missionary and Explorer

    1. 1869 · New York City1869 Commission to Find Livingstone

      James Gordon Bennett Jr. commissioned Henry Morton Stanley to find David Livingstone on behalf of the New York Herald.

  7. Stanley finds Livingstone at Ujiji

    1871

    Role: Explorer and Missionary

    1. 10 November 1871 · UjijiStanley Finds Livingstone at Ujiji

      Stanley located Livingstone in Ujiji on 10 November 1871, greeting him with the famous phrase "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"

Sources

  1. David Livingstone Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-05
  2. Kuruman Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-25
  3. Victoria Falls Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-04