John Hanning Speke was a British explorer most famous for his role in uncovering the secrets of the Nile River. Here's a quick summary:
- Explorer and Soldier: Speke (1827-1864) was a British military officer who served in India before dedicating himself to exploration in Africa.
- Source of the Nile: He is most famous for being the first European to reach Lake Victoria, which he correctly identified as a source of the Nile River. This was a major geographical discovery.
- Multiple Expeditions: Speke undertook three major expeditions to Africa, often collaborating with other explorers like Richard Francis Burton.
- Hamitic Hypothesis: Speke is also known for the controversial Hamitic hypothesis, which proposed a racial distinction between certain African ethnic groups.