Mary Moffat Livingstone

For other people with similar names, see Mary Livingstone (disambiguation).

Mary Moffat sitting under an almond tree at Kuruman with her parents Robert and Mary Moffat. (National Portrait Gallery, London)

Mary Livingstone (née Moffat; 12 April 1821 – 27 April 1862) was the wife of the Scottish Congregationalist missionary David Livingstone.[1][2][3] She was a linguist, an experienced traveller, and managed the household affairs including missionary stations and infant school.[4]

Mary was fluent in Tswana, the language of the BaTswana people. Her linguistic abilities and her lived experience of working in remote outposts in Southern Africa made it possible for the couple to survive.[5]

  1. ^ Livingstone online. Profile of Mary Livingstone, née Moffat Archived 16 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Julie Davidson, Looking for Mrs. Livingstone, ISBN 0715209647, 2012
  3. ^ Book of the Week: – Looking for Mrs Livingstone, BBC Radio 4, broadcast at 09:45 on 10–14 December 2012
  4. ^ "Mrs Livingstone, I presume? Museum to feature role of explorer's wife". the Guardian. 20 June 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Mary Livingstone". David Livingstone Memorial Trust. Retrieved 16 March 2022.