Andrea Debono facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andrea Debono
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| Born | 7 November 1821 Senglea, Malta
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| Died | 29 October 1871 (aged 49) |
| Nationality | Maltese |
| Occupation | Trader |
| Spouse(s) | Victoria Debono |
| Children | 3 |
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Andrea Debono (born November 7, 1821 – died October 29, 1871) was a Maltese trader and explorer. He was also known as Latif Effendi. Andrea Debono was one of the first Europeans to explore the area around the White Nile in the mid-1800s.
Contents
Andrea Debono's Life Story
Andrea Debono was born in Senglea, Malta, on November 7, 1821. His father, Michael Debono, was a captain in the merchant navy. His mother was Teresa née Carabott. Andrea had a twin sister named Battistina. When he was young, Andrea studied medicine and chemistry.
Moving to Egypt and Sudan
Later, the Debono family moved to Alexandria in Egypt. Andrea worked in a hospital there. After his parents passed away, Andrea and Battistina moved to Cairo. In 1848, they moved again to Khartoum in Sudan. In Khartoum, Andrea built a mill for grinding corn. He also helped make building materials. Andrea married a woman named Victoria, who was from Abyssinia. They had three children together.
Exploring the Nile
In 1851, Debono started working for the Egyptian Governor of Sudan. He took on the name Latif Effendi. He earned a lot of money from trading ivory, which comes from elephant tusks. He hired about 400 people to help him. These workers were porters (people who carry things) or boatmen.
Around this time, he also began exploring the Nile River. He was the first European to explore the Sobat River. This river is a branch of the White Nile. He traveled past the waterfalls near Gondokoro. In April 1853, he reached the Djiamoudj rapids. He learned about Lake Albert and the Semliki River.
Between 1854 and 1855, he made a long journey of about 300 miles (480 km). He traveled to the mouth of the Sobat River. His wife, his son, and his agent Philippe Terranuova joined him. At one point, their boats got stuck for six months. This happened because the dry season made the water too low. They also faced threats from local people.
Later Years and Legacy
From 1855 to 1856, Debono worked as the British Consular Agent in Khartoum. In 1859, he explored Gondokoro again. Three years later, he published a book about his travels.
The Italian explorer Giovanni Miani sometimes traveled with him. Andrea Debono's health became poor. He sold his property and moved back to Cairo. He passed away in Cairo on October 29, 1871, at 49 years old.
Andrea Debono was mentioned in the 1863 novel Five Weeks in a Balloon by Jules Verne. A street in his hometown of Senglea, Malta, is named after him.
Images for kids
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A portrait of Andrea Debono.
See Also
- Giovanni Miani
- Samuel Baker
- John Petherick
