FLEGEL, EDWARD ROBERT German traveller in West Africa, was born on Oct. I, 1855, at Vilna. He obtained in 1875 a position in Lagos, West Africa. In 1879 he ascended the Benue river some 125m. above the farthest point hitherto reached ; he then received a commission from the German African Society to explore the whole Benue district. In 188o he went up the Niger to Gomba, and then visited Sokoto, where he obtained a safe-conduct from the sultan for his intended expedi tion to Adamawa. This expedition was undertaken in 1882, and on Aug. 18 Flegel discovered the source of the Benue near Ngaundere. In 1883-84 he made another journey up the Benue. After a short absence in Europe Flegel returned to Africa in April 1885 with a commission to open up the Niger-Benue district to German influence; that is, to prevent Nigeria becoming British. The mission failed, and Flegel died at Brass, at the mouth of the Niger, on Sept. 11, 1886.
Flegel wrote Lose Blotter aus dem Tagebuche meiner Haussaa freunde (Hamburg, 1885), and V om Niger-Benue; Brie f e aus A f rika (edit. by K. Flegel, Leipzig, 1890) . See also "I1 Giornale dell' ultimo viaggio . . . di E. Flegel," in L'esplorazione Com. v. viii. (1893).