About the Book: The Conquest of the Niger by Land and Sea
The Conquest of the Niger by Land and Sea, From the Early Explorers and Pioneer Steamships to Elder Dempster and Company by David Hollett, is an interesting book about a fascinating part of the world.
From the Bight of Benin where the Niger meets the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Guinea, the River Niger (known by locals as the Quorra) travels some two thousand miles through West Africa. Historically the river and the surrounding landscape were difficult and hazardous places for explorers, particularly Europeans. A combination of the local climate, the geography surrounding the river and malaria carrying mosquitos, provided a defensive wall which led to the area becoming known as the "White Man's Grave". The intrepid Scottish explorer Mungo Park first sighted the Niger at Ségou (in Mali) in 1796, but ten years later he drowned after being attacked by natives in the Boussa Rapids (now covered by Lake Kainji). Indeed, it was not until the nineteenth century that the course of the river was fully charted, thus opening the region up to tradesmen from the rest of the world.
This detailed book charts the history of the River Niger and includes chapters on The Niger Steamship Expedition of 1832 and the Niger Expedition of 1841, both of which were instrumental in opening up the region to foreign trade. The parts played by other important nineteenth century historical figures, as well as Mungo Park, are outlined. These include: Captain Hugh Clapperton (R.N.), Major Dixon Denham, Granville Sharp, William Wilberforce, Thomas Clarkson, Captain Hugh Crow, Thomas Fowell Buxton, Captain William Allen (R.N.), Macgregor Laird, Dr. William Balfour Baikie, Liet. John Hawley Glover (R.N.), Alexander Elder, John Dempster, Samuel Crowther, The Rev. Henry Venn and Sir Alfred Jones (K.C.M.G.). They all have a part to play as the story unfolds in the pages of this book.
The Conquest of the Niger by Land and Sea is a great read for history enthusiasts, those with an interest in West Africa or nineteenth century commercial steamships, and exploration in general. It has fifty-one black and white photographic and line illustrations including maps, many of the nineteenth century personalities and the vessels involved in establishing trade in this region of West Africa.
Contents:
- Author
- Acknowledgements
- List of Illustrations
- Preface
- The Niger Country
- The African Association
- Denham, Clapperton and Lander
- The Niger Steamship Expedition - 1832
- Abolitionists, Emancipators and Slavers
- Macgregor Laird and the Age of Steam
- The Niger Expedition of 1841
- Eighteen Forty-One to Eighteen Fifty-Two
- The African Steamship Company, and the voyage of the Pleiad
- The Central African Company and the Voyage of the Dayspring
- Elder Dempster and Company, and the Laird Centenary Celebrations, 1932
- Appendix One
- Aide-memoire to the Conquest of the Niger by Land and Sea
- Appendix Two
- The Combined Elder Dempster Fleets, 1903
- Appendix Three
- The African Steamship Co. Fleet, and the British and African Steam Navigation Co. Fleet, prior to merger, 1932
- Selective Bibliography
- Index
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About the Publisher: P.M. Heaton Publishing
P.M. Heaton was a Welsh based publisher with a particular interest in commercial shipping, road transport and the commercial organisations associated with each. The company was based in Gwent and was particularly active during the 1990s and early 2000s. Below is a list of books published by P.M. Heaton Publishing and it will be noted that the majority were written by Paul Heaton himself. It's a fascinating list of titles and if The Conquest of the Niger by Land and Sea is anything to go by, these books were very well produced - particularly as the publisher behind them was relatively small.
P.M. Heaton Publishing: Bibliography
- 1983 The Abbey Line : History of Cardiff Shipping Venture by P.M. Heaton
- 1985 Welsh Blockade Runners in the Spanish Civil War by P.M. Heaton
- 1987 Tatems of Cardiff by P.M. Heaton
- 1994 Palm Line by Laurence Dunn and P.M. Heaton
- 1995 Merlin's Man Love War and Adventure in the Life of a Welsh Seafarer by Landsdale Humphries
- 1995 The Conquest of the Niger by Land and Sea, From the Early Explorers and Pioneer Steamships to Elder Dempster and Company by David Hollet
- 1995 Passage To The New World: Packet Ships and Irish Famine Emigrants 1845-1851 by David Hollett
- 1995 Sea Safari: British India S.N.Co. African Ships and Services by Peter C. Kohler
- 1995 Wynns: The First 100 Years by John Wynn
- 1996 L. C. Lewis Heavy Haulage by Paul Heaton
- 1996 Wynns: The Last Twenty Years by John Wynn
- 2004 Road Transport: Gwent by Paul Heaton
- 2004 Lamport and Holt Line by Paul Heaton
- 2005 Road Transport: Monmouthshire by Paul Heaton
- 2005 Road Transport Wales and Border by Paul Heaton
- 2006 Spanish Civil War Blockade Runners by Paul Heaton
- 2006 Road Transport: South East Wales by Paul Heaton
- 2011 My Best Friend Ever: Selected Poems of Dogs, Ships and Many Girls by Paul Heaton
About the Author: David Hollett
David Hollett is a native of Liverpool, an area famed for its local football teams (Everton and Liverpool) and for its long history of commercial shipping. The city stands beside the River Mersey and for hundreds of years has been an important commercial port.
David Hollett writes in an academic style and researches his subjects thoroughly. Below is a detailed list of books he has written which show his passion for history, Merseyside and commercial shipping.
David Hollett: Bibliography
- 1984 From Cumberland to Cape Horn, 1st UK edition published by Fairplay Publications Ltd
- 1986 Fast Passage to Australia, 1st UK edition published by Fairplay Publications Ltd
- 1988 Birkenhead and the Nineteenth Century Emigrant Trade to Australia, 1st UK edition published by the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral
- 1992 Men of Iron: Story of Cammell Laird Shipbuilders, 1828-1991, 1st UK edition published by Countyvise Ltd
- 1993 The Alabama Affair: The British Shipyards Conspiracy in the American Civil War, 1st UK edition published by Sigma Leisure
- 1995 The Conquest of the Niger by Land and Sea, From the Early Explorers and Pioneer Steamships to Elder Dempster and Company, UK 1st edition published by P.M. Heaton Publishing
- 1995 Passage To The New World: Packet Ships and Irish Famine Emigrants 1845-1851, 1st UK edition published by P.M. Heaton Publishing
- 1999 Passage from India to El Dorado: Guyana and the Great Migration, 1st UK edition published by Fairleigh Dickinson University Press
- 2000 The Clwydian Way: Long Distance Trail Created to Celebrate the Millennium, 1st UK edition published by the North Wales Area Ramblers Association
- 2002 The Pioneer Ramblers 1850-1940, 1st UK edition published by the North Wales Area Ramblers Association
- 2008 More Precious than Gold: The Story of the Peruvian Guano Trade, 1st UK edition published by Fairleigh Dickinson University Press
- 2011 The Lost World of Fisher & Sprott's Mere Line published by Vaux-Wise Publications
- 2012 The Dyson's of Grafton Street, Liverpool, 1st UK edition published by Vaux-Wise Publications
- 2012 Exodus: The Story of the Atlantic Ferry and the Great Migration to North America, 1st UK edition published by Brown & Son
- 2012 Merseyside's Welsh Reservoirs, 1st UK edition published by Anchor Books
- 2014 Dark Side of Sunlight: The Story of King Leopold, Lord Leverhulme and the Congo, 1st UK edition published by New Generation Publishing
Physical Outline: The Conquest of the Niger by Land and Sea
- Title: The Conquest of the Niger by Land and Sea
- Subtitle: From the Early Explorers and Pioneer Steamships to Elder Dempster and Company
- ISBN: 1 872006 04 3
- Author: David Hollett
- Published by P.M. Heaton Publishing, 1st edition, April 1995
- Format: A hardcover book with its original dust jacket
- Pages: 256, detailed text, 51 black and white photographic and line illustrations
- Size Approx: 153x217mm
- Approx weight: 585g
Estimated Book Value: The Conquest of the Niger by Land and Sea
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The Conquest of the Niger by Land and Sea by David Hollett, estimated value of the pictured copy, a hardback first edition, which is in fine condition in a fine dust jacket, £10
Estimated value of the same book in good condition, £5
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Alexander Elder & John Dempster