author
John Davidson
1797–1836
A chemist turned explorer, he set out across Morocco and toward the Sahara in search of routes into West Africa. His published notes capture both the curiosity and danger of early 19th-century travel.
1 Audiobook
Notes taken during travels in Africa
by John Davidson
About the author
Born in London on December 23, 1797, he trained in chemistry and eventually became a partner in the London firm of Savory, Moore & Co. Alongside his scientific interests, he developed a strong fascination with travel, antiquities, and Africa.
He is best remembered for journeys in Morocco and for his attempt to push farther south toward the Sahara and Timbuktu. His observations were published after his death in Notes Taken During Travels in Africa (1839), a firsthand record of landscapes, cities, and daily life as he encountered them.
His final expedition ended tragically in December 1836, when he was killed while traveling inland from Morocco. Even so, his writing left a vivid snapshot of exploration in an era when much of North and West Africa was still little known to British readers.