RICHARD LANDER  RIVER NIGER EXPEDITION 2004 
Expedition launched to retrace Lander Brothers’ historic river journey

Richard Lander, from Truro in Cornwall, was one of the world’s greatest 19^th century explorers.  However, surprisingly little is known of his achievements today.

                                                                       
                                                                                  Richard Lander

Born in 1804,Richard Lander was the son of the landlord of the 'Fighting Cocks' pub in Truro. It was a popular pub with local sailors and Richard would often listen to their amazing tales of adventures in exotic parts of the world.  These so fired his young imagination that he was determined to have adventures of his own and, at just nine years old, he walked 250 miles from Truro to London to offer his services to the explorers of the day. By the age of eleven, he had already voyaged around the West Indies and at twenty six he and his brother, John Lander, had succeeded in solving one of the world’s greatest geographical mysteries; the true course of the River Niger. 

To mark the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Richard Lander and to celebrate the brothers’ remarkable achievements, an expedition is planned for November 2004 to retrace the Cornish explorers’ historic River Niger voyage. At 2600 miles, the Niger is the tenth longest river in the world and the third longest in Africa.  It travels through four West African countries, although its whole basin covers nine. The existence of the River Niger had been known since the time of the ancient Greeks, yet its course and destination remained a mystery for over 2000 years. Hundreds perished in their quest to discover its route, including the most famous explorers of the early 19^th century, Hugh Clapperton and Mungo Park. Although the River Niger’s source was well known, where it actually went to was a mystery.

                                                                       
                                                                                 Mungo Park

 There were many theories.  Some thought it joined up with the Nile, others were convinced its waters disappeared under the sands of the Sahara, or even that it flowed into a large lake in central Africa, where it then evaporated.  The discovery of the mouth of the River Niger was vital, as whoever found an entry point to the river from the sea could sail their ships directly into the very heart of West Africa.   There was much at stake, as unlocking this mystery would open up vast new trading areas with the rich, landlocked countries of the continent. In 1825, Richard Lander became the right hand man of the famous explorer Hugh Clapperton on two of his River Niger expeditions.  Both expeditions failed, as the teams were devastated by disease.  The second expedition led to the death of Clapperton himself and left Richard Lander as the sole survivor.  He walked alone across Nigeria to find his way to the coast and eventually managed to return to England in 1828, bearing the tragic news of Hugh Clappertons' death.

Impressed by Lander’s incredible fortitude and extraordinarily robust constitution, the British Colonial Office agreed to send Richard and his brother John, who worked for the Royal Cornwall Gazette, on their own expedition to discover the course of the Niger. After many trials and tribulations, including being accused of witchcraft and forced to drink poison; nearly dying of malaria on several occasions; being attacked by hippos; captured by war canoes; kidnapped by rival kings and literally “sold down the river”, the Lander brothers eventually emerged from the River Niger into the open waters of the Gulf of Benin, putting an end to this centuries old mystery. 

On their return to Britain, the brothers were invited for an audience with King William IV at Windsor Castle and were given a hero’s welcome on their return to Truro, where a large columned statue was erected to commemorate their achievements.  Richard was also made the first Gold Medallist of the Royal Geographical Society in 1832.

Two years later Richard Lander led the first trade expedition up the River Niger from the Gulf of Benin.  Unfortunately it ended in tragedy when he was shot and killed by local tribesmen who attacked the expedition’s canoes.  The thirty-year old explorer was buried on the island of Fernando Po, now known as Bioko, where a simple gravestone marks his final resting place.

Megan and Emily Lander, the great-great-great granddaughters of John Lander, will be joining the expedition team at the Lander Brothers Anchorage and Museum on the Banks of the River Niger at Asaba, where a ceremony will be held to celebrate the lives of these remarkable Cornish brothers, before traveling on to visit Richard Lander’s grave on the island of Bioko, formerly known as Fernando Po.

The 2004 Richard Lander expedition will start at Bussa, in Nigeria, where the Lander Brothers began their historic River Niger journey in 1830.  Richard presented the Emir of Bussa with a large silver coin, which was subsequently converted into a ring and is still in existence today.  The coin was treasured to such an extent that it has been worn at the crowning ceremony of every Emir since the Landers brothers’ visit.

The 2004 expedition team will be presenting the current Emir of Bussa with a commemorative coin to mark Richard’s 200th anniversary and plan to start their expedition with a ceremony on the banks of the River Niger, much as the Lander Brother’s did at the beginning of their expedition some two centuries ago.