Henry Morton Stanley Blue Plaque

About This Blue Plaque

Sir Henry Morton Stanley was a renowned Welsh-American explorer, journalist and colonial administrator, best known for his expeditions in central Africa during the late 19th century. Born in 1841 in Denbigh, Wales, he immigrated to the United States as a young man and fought on both sides of the American Civil War before embarking on a journalistic career.

In 1869, Stanley gained international fame when he was dispatched by the New York Herald to find the missing Scottish missionary and explorer David Livingstone in Africa. Upon locating him near Lake Tanganyika in 1871, Stanley reportedly greeted him with the now-famous phrase, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” This expedition brought Stanley global acclaim and ignited his passion for African exploration.

Throughout the 1870s and 1880s, Stanley led several major expeditions into the Congo Basin, navigating the Congo River and helping to establish the Congo Free State under the sovereignty of King Leopold II of Belgium. However, his legacy remains controversial due to his association with the brutality of Leopold’s regime. In recognition of his achievements, Stanley was knighted in 1899, becoming Sir Henry Morton Stanley. He spent his final years at 2 Richmond Terrace in Westminster, London, where he lived until his death in 1904. The Borough of Westminster, home to many of London’s most iconic landmarks and government institutions, served as a fitting residence for this celebrated explorer and writer.