Confirmation of the existence of gorillas and the identification of Pygmy populations in central Africa defined the professional career of Paul du Chaillu. A dual citizen of France and the United States, he navigated the social complexities of the nineteenth-century scientific community while producing extensive documentation regarding the natural history and ethnography of two distinct global regions.
Early Expeditions and African Research
In 1855, the Academy of Natural Sciences at Philadelphia sponsored Du Chaillu for an expedition to West Africa. Operating near the Gabon estuary and the Ogooué River delta through 1859, he observed gorillas, previously known to Western science only through fragmentary skeletal remains. His work expanded in 1863 during a second expedition that lasted until 1865, resulting in the verification of reports concerning Pygmy populations inhabiting deep forest regions. Beyond his focus on primates, he served as a prolific collector, securing type specimens for numerous species including the hammer-headed bat, the African pygmy squirrel, and the giant otter shrew.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Literary and Scientific Reception
Du Chaillu authored several volumes documenting his African findings, most notably 'Explorations and Adventures in Equatorial Africa' in 1861 and 'A Journey to Ashango-land' in 1867. While these works eventually gained academic acceptance, they initially faced skepticism, with some critics suggesting he appropriated indigenous hunting accounts. During his time in Ashango Land, he was elected King of the Apingi tribe. He also provided specimens to major institutions, including the Natural History Museum in London and the Ipswich Museum.
Studies of the Viking Age
Transitioning from tropical research, Du Chaillu dedicated years to studying the history and customs of Scandinavia. Following an 1871 visit to Norway, he conducted a five-year investigation across Sweden, Norway, Lapland, and Finland. This culminated in the 1881 publication 'The Land of the Midnight Sun'. His 1889 effort, 'The Viking Age', analyzed hundreds of Sagas to argue for the significant influence of Norse cultures on the development of the British Isles. Though contemporaries like Canon Isaac Taylor challenged these conclusions, the work underscored the historical importance of the Scandinavian Peninsula.
Identity and Origins
The personal history of Du Chaillu remains subject to academic debate, with conflicting accounts regarding his birth year and location. Records suggest dates ranging from 1831 to 1839, with Saint-Denis, Paris, New Orleans, and the island of Réunion cited as potential birthplaces. Historian Henry H. Bucher later suggested that Du Chaillu may have obscured his heritage to navigate the constraints of 19th-century scientific racism. Despite these ambiguities, his professional activities remained centered within elite European and American scientific circles until his death in 1903.
Fast facts
- Born: 1835 (disputed)
- Died: 1903, Saint Petersburg
- Citizenship: United States and France
- Buried: Woodlawn Cemetery
- Notable Publication: The Viking Age (1889)
- Exploration Field: West Africa and Scandinavia
Questions readers ask
What significant scientific species did Du Chaillu identify?
He collected types for the giant otter shrew, the hammer-headed bat, the southern needle-clawed bushbaby, the African pygmy squirrel, and 39 bird species.
Where is Paul du Chaillu buried?
He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery.
Achievements
- Recorded as explorer, anthropologist and zoologist
