William Desborough Cooley

William Desborough Cooley (c. 1795 – 1883) was an Irish geographer. Discoveries by European explorers gradually showed that a number of his theories about Central Africa, though strongly held, were incorrect. In other controversies his position is now considered to have had some justification. His major contributions are now seen as relating to source criticism of historical records, the understanding of West Africa, and as a perceptive historian of globalisation.^[1]

^ Bridges, Roy. "Cooley, William Desborough". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/6201. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[ODNB-1] Bridges, Roy. "Cooley, William Desborough". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/6201. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

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