Park, Mungo 1771-1806
Scottish explorer

Born in Fowlshiels, in the Scottish Borders, he studied medicine at Edinburgh (1789-91), and through Sir Joseph Banks was made assistant surgeon on the Worcester bound for Sumatra (1792). In 1795 his services were accepted by the African Association. After leaving Mandingo at an English factory on the Gambia, he set off inland in December, finally reaching the Niger at Sego in July 1796. He pursued his way westwards along its banks to Bammaku, but fell ill, and was eventually brought back to the factory by a slave trader. Park told his adventures in Travels in the Interior of Africa (1799), which at last determined the direction of flow of the Niger. Marrying in 1799, he settled as a surgeon in Peebles, Scotland, but in 1805 undertook another journey to Africa. He started from Pisania on the Gambia, and reached Sansanding in November 1805. Battling against great dangers and difficulties he reached Boussa with four others, but they were attacked by local people, and drowned in the fight.

Bibliography: R Tames, Mungo Park (1973)