CLAPPERTON, Huorr, one of those British travelers that led the way in exploring the interior of Africa, was b. at Annan, in the co. of Dumfries, Scotland, in 1788. At the age of 17, he went to sea; and being impressed into a man-of-war, lie distinguished him self by his services, and was appointed to the rank of lieutenant. In 1817, lie returned to England on half-pay. Having become acquainted in Edinburgh with Dr. Oudney, who was about to proceed to Bornu as British consul, the thoughts of C. were directed to Africa; and government appointed him and lieut. Denham to accompany Oudney in an exploring expedition into the interior of that continent. After a short stay at Tri poli, they started in Feb., 1822, for Bornu, where Denham separated from his compan ions, in order to carry his researches southward. C. proceeded westward, accompanied by Oudney, who died by the way. He still pushed on alone as far as Sakkatu, but not being allowed to proceed further westward, he retraced his steps, and, in company with Denham, returned to England in 1825. The journey had done much for the knowledge of Africa, but the great geographical problem of the course of the Niger was still much in the same position. To solve it, if possible, C.—the rank of commander having been
conferred upon him—started again in Aug., 1825, in company with rapt. Pearce, RN., Mr. Dickson, and Dr. Morrison. He had also Richard Lander as his confidential serv ant. They commenced their exploration into the interior from the Bight of Benin. His companions died early on the journey, but C. and his faithful attendant, Lander, reached Sakkatu. Detained here by the sultan, Bello, the vexation joined to the hardships of the journey so affected his health, that he died at Changary, near Sakkatu, April 13, 1827. C. was the first European that penetrated from the Bight of Benin into the inte rior of Africa, and followed the course of the Niger for a great way. Though without scientific education, he was an intelligent and unprejudiced observer, and made import ant additions to geographical of Travels and Discoveries in _North ern and Central Africa in the years 1822-23-24, by Denham, Clapperton, and Oudney (Lond. 1826); Journal of a Second Expedition into the Interior of Africa, etc. (Lond. 1829); Records of Clapperton's Last Expedition. to Africa, by Richard Lander (Loud. 1830).