Joseph Thomson (explorer)

Joseph Thomson
Born(1858-02-14)14 February 1858
Penpont, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Died2 August 1895(1895-08-02) (aged 37)
London, England
Occupation(s)Geologist and explorer

Joseph Thomson (14 February 1858 – 2 August 1895) was a British geologist and explorer who played an important part in the Scramble for Africa. Thomson's gazelle and Thomson's Falls, Nyahururu, are named after him. Excelling as an explorer rather than an exact scientist, he avoided confrontations among his porters or with indigenous peoples, neither killing any native nor losing any of his men to violence.[1] His motto is often quoted to be "He who goes gently, goes safely; he who goes safely, goes far."

  1. ^ "Through Maasailand: In the Footsteps of Africa's Greatest Explorer". Archived from the original on 24 March 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2009.