Sir John Barrow

Barrow, John, Sir, 1764-1848.

An account of travels into the interior of Southern Africa, in the years 1797 and 1798: including cursory observations on the geology and geography of the southern part of that continent; the natural history of such objects as occurred in the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms; and sketches of the physical and moral characters of the various tribes of inhabitants surrounding the settlement of the Cape of Good Hope. 1st edition. London : T. Cadell and W. Davies, 1801.

Barrow arrived in Africa from China, where he had been on a diplomatic mission, as the private secretary to the British military governor. He was sent further inland with scientific and political objectives: to obtain geographic information, and also to reconcile the Kaffirs and the Boer settlers in the area. He returned to England in 1802, when the Dutch resumed administration of the colony.

The publication of this first edition of his account was not the end of his Barrow's interest in Africa. His continued interest in and support of exploration led to British attempts by Oudney and Clapperton to explore the Niger River. Eventually, he proposed the formation of the Royal Geographical Society in 1830.