Arrival in Timbuktu in August 1826 secured Alexander Gordon Laing his place as the first European to reach the city via the north-to-south Saharan route. The expedition ended abruptly five weeks later when he was murdered by his own Arab escorts, just after departing the city to continue his journey through the region.
Early Military Career
Born in Edinburgh in 1794, Laing received his primary education from his father, William Laing, and at the University of Edinburgh. In 1811, he relocated to Barbados to serve as a clerk for his uncle, Colonel Gabriel Gordon. By 1813, he secured an ensigncy in the York Light Infantry Volunteers, eventually transitioning to the Royal African Colonial Corps as a captain by 1822.
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Stationed in Sierra Leone in 1822, Governor Sir Charles MacCarthy tasked Laing with promoting commerce and addressing the slave trade in Mandingo country. During this period, he visited Falaba and attempted to locate the source of the Niger. Although halted by local inhabitants, he successfully mapped the river's origin with approximate accuracy. In 1824, he participated in the Ashanti War and returned to England to publish his findings in a volume titled Travels in the Timannee, Kooranko and Soolima Countries, in Western Africa.
The Timbuktu Mission
Supported by the African Association and the Earl of Bathurst, Laing departed England in February 1825 to map the Niger basin. He married Emma Warrington in Tripoli that July. His path toward Timbuktu involved crossing the Sahara, reaching Ghadames in October and In Salah by December. The desert transit proved hazardous; he suffered from fever and was wounded in 24 places during a caravan raid. Despite these injuries and the loss of his right hand, he reached Timbuktu on 18 August 1826.
Final Days and Legacy
Laing occupied a house in the Djingareiber district for 38 days. His final correspondence on 21 September noted the hostility of the Fula chieftain Bello. He intended to depart three days later, but was killed upon leaving. His papers were never recovered. In 1830, the Société de Géographie awarded him the Grande Médaille d'Or des Explorations. The French government later designated his residence in Timbuktu as a National Heritage site in 1992.
Fast facts
- Born: 1794, Edinburgh
- Died: 26 September 1826, Araouane
- Occupations: Military officer, explorer
- Award: Grande Médaille d'Or des Explorations (1830)
- Marriage: Emma Warrington (1825)
- Key Publication: Travels in the Timannee, Kooranko and Soolima Countries (1825)
Questions readers ask
Was Alexander Gordon Laing the first European to enter Timbuktu?
Yes, he was the first European to reach the city via the north-to-south route.
What happened to the records of his journey?
His papers were never recovered after he was murdered.
Achievements
- Grande Médaille d'Or des Explorations
- Recorded as explorer and military personnel
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