Explorer. Born Devon. The first European, while on an expedition with Richard Burton to East Africa in 1858, to discover Lake Victoria. On a subsequent journey with James Grant in 1862, he confirmed its northern outlet as the source of the Nile. Burton queried whether Speke really had found the source of the Nile and the two fell out. Murchison arranged a debate between them. Two days before this debate Speke left a lunch where Burton was present, to go on a partridge shoot. Climbing over a wall he shot himself. Suicide was suspected but never proved. Since his death there have been suggestions that he was a repressed homosexual, although he is known to have fathered a child in Buganda, and even that he and Burton had had an intimate relationship.
Other Subjects
John Wilson
Role on the lost expedition: Petty officer on SS Terror. See John Franklin.
Josephus Geater
Role on the lost expedition: Able seaman on SS Erebus. See John Franklin.
Charles Best
Role on the lost expedition: Able seaman on SS Erebus. See John Franklin.
Harry D. S. Goodsir
Role on the lost expedition: Officer on SS Erebus. See John Franklin. A skeleton was found which is thought to be his. See the picture source for how they did that.
William Orren
Role on the lost expedition: Able seaman on SS Erebus. See John Franklin.
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Bill Kenwright
Born Liverpool. West End theatre producer and chairman of Everton Football Club.
Fire station - West End Green
NW6, West End Green, West Hampstead Fire Station
J. D. Gilbert Esq. Chairman of the Fire Brigade Committee of the London County Council laid this stone on the 24th day of June 1901.
National Portrait Gallery - Fuller
WC2, Charing Cross Road
This building, 1896, designed by Ewan Christian, has 18 busts contained in medallions around the top of the facades. Starting at the east...
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