Joseph Thomson (explorer)
Joseph Thomson (born February 14, 1858 in Penpont , Dumfriesshire , Scotland , † August 2, 1895 in London ) was a Scottish explorer and traveler to Africa. Its official botanical author abbreviation is " J.Thomson ".
Live and act
Thomson studied in Edinburgh and went to East Africa as a geologist on the expedition led by Keith Johnston in 1878 . After Johnston had succumbed to a fever on June 28, 1879, Thomson took over the leadership of the expedition. They went through Uhehe the northern end of Lake Nyassa and from here the Tanganyika near Pambete , explored the west bank to the island of Kasenge and followed the course of the Lukuga further than Henry Morton Stanley and Cameron up to 29 ° 27 ' E longitude and 5 ° 41' south latitude . He struck the way back on March 1, 1880 from Pambete in a north and northeast direction through Fipa and Ukonongo to Unjamwesi .
On behalf of the Sultan, he made a fruitless attempt in 1882 to find coal storage on the Rovuma . Equipped by the Geographical Society in London, he walked from Mombasa on March 10, 1883 via Taveta , past the eastern and northern edges of Kilimanjaro , to the plateau of Kapotei , to Lake Naivasha and over a 4,300 m high mountain range that led from him The name Aberdarekette was given at the foot (1,740 m) of Mount Kenya . From here he turned to the northwest to Lake Baringo and the Elgejo-ridge , the Nzoia along by Kawirondo where he in Masala on 10 December 1882 the Victoria Nyanza saw. After a detour to the 4,270 meter high Mount Elgon he went over the Baringo and Naivasha Lakes and south of them over the Ulu Mountains and through the Kikumbuliu landscape to Taita and Mombasa, where he arrived on May 25, 1884.
In the years 1883 to 1884 Thomson toured the Maasai country and conveyed the image of the Maasai as bloodthirsty warriors. He published his travel experiences in 1885 under the title Through Masai land .
The Thomson gazelle was named after him.
Works
- To the Central African Lakes and Back (2 volumes, 1881)
- Through Maasai land. Research trip in East Africa to the snow mountains and wild tribes between Kilima-Ndjaro and Victoria Njansa in the years 1883 and 1884 , Brockhaus, Leipzig 1885 (German edition of the following work)
- Through Masai land. A journey of exploration among the snowclad volcanic mountains and strange tribes of Eastern Equatorial Africa , Cass, London 1968 (Repr. D. London 1885)
- Ulu (2 volumes, 1888) with E. Harris Smith
- Travels in the Atlas and Southern Morocco (1889)
- Mungo Park and the Niger (1890)
literature
- JB Thomson: Joseph Thomson: African explorer . 1896
- RI Rotberg: Joseph Thomson and the exploration of Africa . 1971
Web links
- Author entry and list of the described plant names for Joseph Thomson (discoverer) at the IPNI
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Thomson, Joseph |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Scottish explorer and Africa traveler |
| DATE OF BIRTH | February 14, 1858 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Penpont , Dumfriesshire , Scotland |
| DATE OF DEATH | August 2, 1895 |
| Place of death | London |