Welcome to a Look Around
"My Scottish Borders"
X is for:
An EXplorer plus EXcursions, EXpressions, EXchanges & EXhaustion!
EXplorer MUNGO PARK (1771 – 1806), was born near Selkirk in
the Scottish Borders, the seventh of thirteen children. At the age of
fourteen, he was apprenticed to local surgeon Thomas Anderson before
studying medicine and botany at Edinburgh University.
Under the auspices of the African Association, he led an expedition to explore the course of the River Niger - at 2600 miles the third longest river in Africa. His book Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa became a major success, introducing people to the vast continent.
In 1804 he set out on a second expedition, but never returned. It took time for his death to be confirmed, but his papers were eventually recovered and formed the basis of "The Journal of a Mission to the Interior of Africa", published in 1815.
This impressive statue unveiled in 1859 stands on Selkirk High Street.
As we near the end of this year's A-Z challenge, I have enjoyed:
- EXcursions into local history and culture
- EXchanging information on "My Scottish Borders".
- EXpressing the pleasure I get from living in such a lovely part of the world.
And finally after all of this - EXhaustion!
Follow the next stage of this
A-Z Journey through "My Scottish Borders"
A-Z Journey through "My Scottish Borders"
Y is for:
Yetholm and a Yarrow Ballad
Yetholm and a Yarrow Ballad
Do take a look at earlier posts in "My Scottish Borders
A-Z Challenge Preview
A-Z Challenge A - Abbeys,Abbotsford and Armstrong's
A-Z Challenge B - Border Reivers, Border Ballads and Blackmail
A-Z Challenge C - Common Ridings and Carter Bar
A-Z Challenge D - Dryburgh Abbey, Duns Scotus and The Douglas Tragedy
A-Z Challenge E - Ellio's, Earlston, Enigma Hero and Eyemouth Tart
A-Z Challenge F - Flodden, Fletcher and Flowers of the Forest
A-Z Challenge G - A Green & Pleasant Land and Galashiels
A-Z Challenge H - Hermitage Castle and Hawick
A-Z Challenge F - Flodden, Fletcher and Flowers of the Forest
A-Z Challenge G - A Green & Pleasant Land and Galashiels
A-Z Challenge H - Hermitage Castle and Hawick
A-Z Challenge I - Inspirational Land of James Hogg & Will Ogilvie
A-Z Challenge J - Jedburgh, Jedthart Justice & Jethart Snails
A-Z Challenge K - Kalaidoscope, Kelso and Kinmont Willie
A-Z Challenge L - The Fair Lilliard and Leaderfoot Viaduct
A-Z Challenge M - Muckle Mou'ed Meg and Melrose
A-Z Challenge N - Newark Castle and Nature
A-Z Challenge O - Oxford Connections - Sir James Murray & Mary Somerville
A-Z Challenge P - Pele Towers and Princely Connections
A-Z Challenge Q - Queen of Scots and Queen of Elfland
A-Z Challenge R - Rivers, Rugby and Rumbledethumps
A-Z Challenge S - Scott's, Sir Walter and 'Scott's View
A-Z Challenge T - Turnbull's and Thomas the Rhymer
A-Z Challenge U - US Presidential Connection, Unusual Sight & Unusual Facts
A-Z Challenge V -Valour Votes and Vital Statistics
A-Z Challenge W - Wallace, Waterloo, Walks and Woods
A-Z Challenge K - Kalaidoscope, Kelso and Kinmont Willie
A-Z Challenge L - The Fair Lilliard and Leaderfoot Viaduct
A-Z Challenge M - Muckle Mou'ed Meg and Melrose
A-Z Challenge N - Newark Castle and Nature
A-Z Challenge O - Oxford Connections - Sir James Murray & Mary Somerville
A-Z Challenge P - Pele Towers and Princely Connections
A-Z Challenge Q - Queen of Scots and Queen of Elfland
A-Z Challenge R - Rivers, Rugby and Rumbledethumps
A-Z Challenge S - Scott's, Sir Walter and 'Scott's View
A-Z Challenge T - Turnbull's and Thomas the Rhymer
A-Z Challenge U - US Presidential Connection, Unusual Sight & Unusual Facts
A-Z Challenge V -Valour Votes and Vital Statistics
A-Z Challenge W - Wallace, Waterloo, Walks and Woods
So sad, he was only 34/5 years old when he died. I'm a little confused about the statues, though. Mungo Park, I assume, is the fellow on the left, but who is the statue of on the right?
ReplyDeleteYes, you are right, the statue on the left is of Mungo Park. It sits high on a plinth with African images at each corner of the base - one the figure on the right. On teh sides of the p/linth are the plaques shown in my post.
Delete