Sir Samuel White Baker (1821-1893) was an English explorer, officer, naturalist, big game hunter, engineer, writer and abolitionist. He also held the titles of Pasha and Major-General in the Ottoman Empire and Egypt. He served as the Governor-General of the Equatorial Nile Basin (today's South Sudan and Northern Uganda) between April 1869 and August 1873, which he established as the Province of Equatoria.
Baker is best known for his two major expeditions to Central Africa: his 1861-1865 expedition, during which he discovered Lake Albert, and his 1869-1873 expedition, during which he attempted to suppress the slave trade in the region.
Baker was a complex and controversial figure. He was a skilled explorer and a courageous leader, but he was also a ruthless colonialist and a big game hunter who killed countless animals. Despite his flaws, Baker played an important role in the exploration of Central Africa and in the fight against the slave trade.
Here are some of his notable achievements:
- In 1864, he discovered Lake Albert, one of the two main sources of the Nile River.
- In 1869, he was appointed Governor-General of the Equatorial Nile Basin, where he attempted to suppress the slave trade.
- He is also known for his prolific writings about his travels and experiences, including his books The Nile Tributaries of Abyssinia (1867) and Ismailia: A Narrative of the Expedition to Central Africa for the Suppression of the Slave Trade, Organized by Ismail, Khedive of Egypt (1874).
Baker's legacy is mixed. He is admired for his courage and determination, but he is also criticized for his ruthlessness and his role in colonialism. Nevertheless, he remains one of the most important figures in the history of African exploration.
