Pellegrino Matteucci
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Doctor Pellegrino Matteucci | |
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| Born | 12 October 1850 Ravenna,Italy |
| Died | 8 August 1881(aged 30) London,England |
| Resting place | Bologna,Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Education | University of Rome |
| Organization(s) | Society for Commercial Explorations Geographical Society of Rome |
| Known for | Exploration of Africa |
DoctorPellegrino Matteucci(12 October 1850 – 8 August 1881) was an Italian explorer known for his expeditions to Africa.
Early life
[edit]Matteucci was born inRavenna,Italy. His parents moved toBolognawhen he was two years old.[1]He studied medicine andArabicat theUniversity of Rome,intending to be aRoman Catholicmissionary toAfrica.His education was interrupted when the Italian army occupied Rome in 1870, but he continued it in Ravenna.
Exploration
[edit]Together withRomolo Gessi,Matteucci travelled up the Blue Nile on an unsuccessful expedition to theKingdom of Kaffa.[2]Matteucci wrote of the trip "You can imagine the state of mind of Gessi, who has never known fear, and always conquered with few and brave soldiers; here, near to the goal, and imprisoned by a swollen river, and with few fighting-men, he is like a wounded lion."[3]Matteucci published a history of the journey,Soudan and Galla,on his return.[4]
In December 1878, Matteucci travelled toAbyssiniawithGustavus Bianchiat the request of theSociety for Commercial ExplorationsinMilan.[4][5]They travelled through Africa, heading to the northern border ofShewa.By the end of this expedition, Matteucci had succumbed to fever attributed tomalariafour times.[6]The journey was chronicled in Matteucci's bookIn Abyssinia.[4]
Matteucci's last journey, started in spring 1880, took him from the Red Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, passing throughEgypt,Darfur,andWadaien route to an English settlement at the mouth of theNiger River.It was sponsored by theGeographical Society of Rome.[7]Prince GiovanniBorghese,the youngest member of that family, accompanied the expedition as far asWadai.[6]While in Wadai, Matteucci and a young naval officer accompanying him, Lieutenant Alfonso Maria Massari, convinced the Sultan of Wadai to spare the lives of 400 Italian prisoners of war.[1]The Sultan had imprisoned the explorers for 113 days before permitting them to enter his kingdom.[8]The explorers travelled fromSawakinon theRed SeaoverKhartum,throughDarfur,south alongLake Chad,throughKanem-Bornu,throughKanoand Bida, to the delta of the RiverNiger.They covered an average of 14 miles (23 km) a day, and a total distance of 3,000 miles (4,800 km).[9]On theGulf of Guinea,Matteucci's expedition found passage on a ship to England. Matteucci left few notes and letters from this trip, because of his fevers, inflammation of the eyes, and periods of imprisonment along the way.[8]
Death
[edit]Following the final expedition, Matteucci arrived inLiverpooland took the train toLondon,where he suffered a severe fever. Despite the aid of doctors, he died the following day, 8 August 1881, in a London hotel. His body was taken toBolognaby Massari.[1]
Works
[edit]- La spedizione italiana all' Africa equatoriale(in Italian). Bologna: Felsinea. 1875.OCLC38783352.
- Sudan e Gallas[Soudan and Galla] (in Italian). Milan:Fratelli Treves.1879.OCLC9909312.
- In Abissinia: viaggio[In Abyssinia] (in Italian). Milan:Fratelli Treves.1880.OCLC457461525.
References
[edit]- ^abcBompiani, Sofia (1891).Italian Explorers in Africa.Leisure Hour Library: New series. Vol. 3. The Religious Tract Society. p. 46.OCLC315703052.
- ^Bompiani,Explorers,p. 43.
- ^Bompiani,Explorers,p. 34.
- ^abcBompiani,Explorers,p. 47.
- ^Bompiani,Explorers,p. 44.
- ^abBompiani,Explorers,p. 45.
- ^Bompiani,Explorers,p. 48.
- ^abBompiani,Explorers,p. 49.
- ^Bompiani,Explorers,p. 50.
Further reading
[edit]External links
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