This house in Mikindani in southern Tanzania was the starting point for Livingstone’s last expedition. He stayed here from 24 March to 7 April 1866.

LIVINGSTONE WAS A DOG LOVER

The famous phrase, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” might not have been said. It doesn’t appear in Livingstone’s writings, and the page from newspaperman Henry Stanley’s diary is missing. Some scholars think Stanley made it up.

Livingstone was a dog lover. On his expedition to find the source of the Nile, he took with him a pet poodle named Chitané.

Livingstone’s face appears on the cover of The Beatles’ iconic Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album.

While still known as a famous missionary, Livingstone only converted one person – who later lapsed.

Livingstone had a keen sense of humour. Whimsical drawings, as well as professional maps and ethnic illustrations, fill his field diaries. He drew cartoons of people and animals as well as mapping rivers and recording the horrors of slavery.

64 August 2015

While still known as a famous missionary, Livingstone only converted one person – who later lapsed.

Livingstone loved coffee. He may even have anticipated its mass production in Africa, writing that the coffee there “is really the best I ever tasted.”

Despite a stern appearance, Livingstone filled his letters with wity sarcasm and punchy criticism. In one case, his irritation is directed towards a series of “resolutions” passed at various teetotal meetings strongly condemning his “impiety” for joining his friends in a toast to his health.

Livingstone recorded native medicines and developed an anti- malaria potion called “rousers.” It combined large doses of quinine with resin of jalap, rhubarb and calomel (used as an insecticide) to purge the bowels. He used his modern western medical training as a doctor and surgeon as a passport to cross war-torn borderlands, much like “Doctors without Borders” today.

Livingstone’s oldest son, Robert, fought and died in the U.S. Civil War aſter being forced to enlist. He joined under an assumed name, fearing his enlistment would bring shame to Livingstone.

Livingstone died in Africa and was embalmed by his followers. When brought back to Britain, his body was so badly decomposed the only way to identify it was by an arm bone which bore distinctive scars of a well known lion atack years earlier.