LED'YARD, ;roux (1751-881. An American traveler, born at Groton, Conn. His father dying Ledyard was brought up by his paternal grandfather at Hartford. At first he studied law, hut in 1772 entered Dartmouth to fit himself for a missionary career. Soon absenting himself. he spent several months with the Iro quois. and in 1773 went as a common sailor to Gibraltar, where he enlisted in a British regi ment, from which. however. he was almost imme diately discharged. Ile returned to America, but in 1776 went, to England, and, as a. corporal of marines. aceompanied Captain Cook on his last voyage (1776-791. In 1782. while on a man-of war of Long he deserted; hot in June, 1784. returned to England. where and in Paris he made fruitless efforts to organize an exploring expedition to the northwest coast of North .kiner ien. Be then, with the assistance of Sir Joseph Banks, undertook a tour of exploration in the extreme north of Europe. Starting from Stock holm on foot ( 1786), he traversed the coast line of the Gulf of Bothnia. and arrived
at. Saint Petersburg early in 1787. At Irkutsk he was arrested by order of the Russian Govern ment. and was subsequently expelled from the country With orders not to return. lie reached London with the greatest difficulty; but almost immediately—on behalf of the African Associa tion—Aiarted on an expedition to the interior of Africa. At Cairo, however, he became ill. and died (probably in November, 1788). from the effects of an overdose of `vitriol.' A journal which lie kept during Captain Cook's voyage bad been contiseated by the British Government, but in 1782 he published an account from mem o•y which became very popular. Some of his papers were also puldished after his death by the African Association. Consult his "Life" (Bos ton, 1828), by dared Sparks, in Sparks's Ameri can Biography, vol. 'XXIV.