Mary Kingsley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Kingsley
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Mary Kingsley (1890s)
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| Born | 13 October 1862 |
| Died | 3 June 1900 (aged 37) Simon's Town, South Africa
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| Nationality | English |
| Known for | Travels and writings on West Africa |
Mary Henrietta Kingsley (born October 13, 1862 – died June 3, 1900) was an English writer, scientist, and explorer. She traveled a lot in West Africa. Her journeys and writings helped change how Europeans saw African cultures and British colonialism (when one country controls another).
Contents
Early Life and Education
Mary Kingsley was born in London on October 13, 1862. Her father, George Kingsley, was a doctor, traveler, and writer. Her uncles, Charles Kingsley and Henry Kingsley, were also famous writers. The family moved several times, living in Highgate and later Bexley in Kent.
Family and Influences
Mary's father often traveled far from home. He collected information for his studies. He even went to North America with Lord Dunraven. Once, he was almost with George Armstrong Custer's army during a battle with Sioux Indians. The family was very scared when they heard about the massacre. Luckily, bad weather stopped her father from joining Custer. Her father's ideas about how Native Americans were treated might have shaped Mary's later thoughts on British control in West Africa.
Learning and Books
Mary did not go to a formal school much, unlike her brother. This was common for girls in her time. But she had access to her father's huge library. She loved hearing his stories about faraway lands. Mary preferred science books and explorer memoirs over novels. In 1886, her brother Charley went to Christ's College, Cambridge to study law. This helped Mary meet some important people and make friends.
Beliefs and Family Changes
Mary was a strong believer in God. She also felt a connection to 'the African religion'. She often criticized Christian missionaries. She thought they were changing African cultures without offering real benefits. She saw how missionaries sometimes caused problems. For example, they might tell African men to leave all but one wife. This left many women and children without support.
In her later years, Mary had to care for her sick mother. This limited her travel plans. Her father also became ill. Both her parents died in 1892. Mary then inherited money, which she shared with her brother. This finally gave her the freedom to travel, just as she had always dreamed.
Adventures in Africa
After a short trip to the Canary Islands, Mary decided to visit West Africa. At that time, it was very unusual for an English woman to travel alone in Africa. Most non-African women there were wives of missionaries or officials. African women were often surprised she traveled without a husband.
First Journey
Mary arrived in Sierra Leone on August 17, 1893. From there, she traveled to Luanda in Angola. She lived with local people who taught her how to survive in the wild. They also gave her good advice. She often explored dangerous areas by herself. Her training as a nurse helped her handle small injuries and jungle sicknesses. Mary returned to England in December 1893.
Second Journey and Discoveries
When she came back, Mary got help from Dr. Albert Günther. He was a famous zoologist at the British Museum. She also got a book deal with publisher George Macmillan. She wanted to write about her travels.
Mary went back to Africa on December 23, 1894. She had more support and supplies this time. She wanted to learn about different cultures and their traditional religious practices.
In Gabon, Mary traveled by canoe up the Ogooué River. She collected many fish specimens that were new to Western science. Three of these fish were later named after her! She also met the Fang people. She bravely climbed the 4,040 meter (13,250 ft) Mount Cameroon. No other European had tried that route before.
Return to England
Mary returned home in November 1895. Journalists were very eager to interview her. But she was upset by how the newspapers described her. They called her a "New Woman", which was a term for women seeking more independence. Mary did not like this label. She said that women's suffrage (the right for women to vote) was "a minor question." She felt that getting rights for British traders in West Africa was more important.
Lectures and Controversies
For the next three years, Mary traveled around England. She gave many talks about life in Africa. She was the first woman to speak to the business groups in Liverpool and Manchester.
Mary also upset the Church of England. She criticized missionaries for trying to change African religions. She talked about parts of African life that shocked English people, like polygamy (having more than one wife). She argued that polygamy was sometimes necessary in African societies. She saw that African wives had many tasks. Missionaries often told converted men to leave all but one wife. This left other women and children without support, causing big problems.
Mary's ideas about British influence in Africa are still debated today. She believed African people and cultures needed protection. But she also thought British trade and technology were important. She supported the idea of "indirect rule," where local leaders still had some power under British control.
Writings
Mary Kingsley wrote two books about her adventures: Travels in West Africa (1897) and West African Studies (1899). Travels in West Africa became a best-seller right away. Both books earned her respect among scholars. Some newspapers, like the Times, refused to review her books. This might have been because her books sometimes criticized British control. However, she also supported British traders and indirect rule.
Mary's writing was lively and funny. She wanted to finish the work her father had started. She aimed to show the good qualities of people, both white and black. She said her goal was to study African ideas about religion and law.
Death
When the Second Boer War started, Mary traveled to Cape Town in March 1900. She volunteered as a nurse at a hospital in Simon's Town. She cared for sick soldiers. After two months, she got typhoid fever and died on June 3, 1900.
She asked to be left alone to die. She said she didn't want anyone to see her weakness. She also asked to be buried at sea. Her wish was granted with full honors. Her coffin was carried on a gun carriage to the pier. A boat took her out to sea. There was a funny moment when her coffin didn't sink at first. They had to pull it back and add an anchor to make it sink. Mary would have found this amusing.
Legacy
Mary Kingsley's stories and ideas about Africa brought attention to British actions abroad. She also helped people in Europe understand African customs better. After her death, a group called the Fair Commerce Party formed. They pushed for better conditions for people in British colonies. Many groups were created in her honor. They helped bring about changes in government. The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine created a special medal in her name. In Sierra Leone, an auditorium at Fourah Bay College was named the Mary Kingsley Auditorium.
Gallery
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Photographic portrait
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Photographic portrait - profile
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Carved wooden portrait bust by an Ibibio sculptor from Nigeria, at World Museum Liverpool
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A drawing of the fish species Ctenopoma kingsleyae, named after Kingsley
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A picture of the beetle species Pseudictator kingsleyae, also named to honor Kingsley
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"Avalon", 22 Southwood Lane, Highgate: Kingsley's childhood home
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Blue plaque put up in 1975 at "Avalon"
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See also
In Spanish: Mary Kingsley para niños
