Charles Chaillé-Long facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Chaillé-Long
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| Born | July 2, 1842 Princess Anne, Maryland |
| Died | March 24, 1917 (aged 74) Virginia Beach, Virginia |
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Charles Chaillé-Long (1842–1917) was an American soldier, explorer, and writer. He was born in Princess Anne, Maryland. He worked for both the United States Army and the Egyptian Army. Charles explored parts of Central Africa and Korea. He was the second Westerner to see Lake Victoria. He might also be the first American to visit Lake Kyoga, which was also called Lake Ibrahim.
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Serving the United States
Charles Chaillé-Long was a soldier in the Union Army. He fought during the American Civil War. He was part of the important Battle of Gettysburg. He started as a private, which is the lowest rank. By the end of the war, he had become a captain.
Adventures in Africa
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After the American Civil War, about 50 American soldiers were asked to serve in Egypt. Charles joined the Egyptian Army in 1869 as a lieutenant-colonel. He arrived in Egypt in 1870.
In 1874, he worked under Charles Gordon in southern Sudan. He traveled south into what is now Uganda. There, he made an agreement with King Muteesa I of Buganda. In the same year, he became the second Western explorer to visit Lake Victoria. He was also possibly the first American to see Lake Kyoga. On his way back, he was attacked by forces from Bunyoro.
Charles went on more trips. In 1875, he explored the land of the Azande people. In 1876, he explored the Jubba River in Somalia. He also led Egyptian forces in an expedition to the Indian Ocean coast in 1875.
He wrote a book about his travels called Central Africa: Naked Truths of Naked People.
Life After the Military
Charles Chaillé-Long left the Egyptian Army in 1877. He returned to the United States and studied law at Columbia Law School. He finished his studies in 1880. He became a lawyer who specialized in international law. He also taught law in Paris, France.
In 1881, a war called the Mahdist War began in Egypt. Charles was put in charge of the American consulate in Alexandria, Egypt. He opened the consulate to people from many different countries who needed safety. Many people believe he saved many lives this way.
Charles was also a writer. His 1884 book, The Three Prophets, was critical of Charles Gordon. He also wrote My Life in Four Continents, which was about his own life.
In 1887, President Grover Cleveland chose him to be a consul general and secretary for the American group in Korea.
From 1890, he spent about eight years in Egypt. During this time, he continued to write and explore.
After returning to the United States, he helped with the Universal Postal Union meeting. Later, he became the secretary for the United States group at the Paris Exposition in 1900.
Charles Chaillé-Long passed away on March 24, 1917, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His wife, Mary Amelia Chaillé-Long, was the daughter of New York State Congressman John Hammond.
Awards and Recognition
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In 1909, Charles Chaillé-Long received the Charles P. Daly Medal. This award was from the American Geographical Society. It was given to him for his important discoveries in Africa. The award recognized his exploration of the Nile River north of Urondogan. It also mentioned his discovery of Lake Ibrahim (Lake Kyoga). His work helped prove that the river flowing from Lake Victoria Nyanza was indeed the Nile.
He also received several other awards for his service:
- Cross Medjidieh and Cross Osmanieh from Egypt.
- Cross of Chevalier of The Légion d'honneur from France.
- A Gold Medal from the General Assembly of Maryland.
- Two other medals from Egypt and Korea, which are not fully identified.
Books Written by Charles Chaillé-Long
- Central Africa: Naked Truths of Naked People (1876)
- L'Afrique Centrale; expéditions an lae Victoria-Nyanza et an Makrakaniam niam (1877)
- The Three Prophets (1884)
- Les Sources du Nil (1891)
- L'Égypte et ses provinces perdues (1892)
- La Corée ou Tschösen La Terre du Calme Matinal (1894)
- Les Combattants Francais de la Guerre
- My Life in Four Continents (1912)
