Emin Pasha, originally Eduard Schnitzer 1840-92
German doctor, explorer and linguist

Born in Neisse, of Jewish parents, he studied medicine at Breslau and Berlin, and practised at Scutari (Albania), where he adopted the Muslim faith. After 1876, as Emin Effendi, he was in the Egyptian service, becoming bey and pasha. General Charles Gordon appointed him chief medical officer of the Equatorial Province, and in 1878 made him Governor of the province. A skilful linguist, Emin Pasha added enormously to the knowledge of African languages, made important surveys and wrote valuable geographical papers, and sent to Europe rich collections of plants and animals. He was 'rescued' by Henry Morton Stanley's expedition in 1889, and, isolated by disaffection within his troops, he accompanied Stanley to Zanzibar, but immediately returned to extend the German sphere of influence around Lake Victoria. He never regained his old influence, and was marching for the west coast when he was murdered by Arabs in the Manyema country.

Bibliography: A Symons, Emin, the Governor of Equatoria (1928)