Houghton was born into an Irish military family c. 1740. At the age of 18, he signed up with the 69th Regiment of Foot, in which his father had also served. He was soon promoted to the rank of lieutenant. In 1772, he was stationed in the garrison at Gibraltar, whence his commanding officer General Edward Cornwallis sent the young lieutenant to the court of the Moroccan emperor on a diplomatic mission.
The following years were full of financial hardship for Houghton. In a desperate bid to change his fortune, he accepted the post of engineer at the court of the Nawab of Arcot, but instead of reaching India, his ship abandoned its journey at the island of Gorée off the African coast. Here, Houghton took up the post of Fort-Major, a role in which he continued for the next four years.
After he retired from the army he married and started a family. He married Philippa Evelyn, the great-granddaughter of John Evelyn, the diarist, at St Martin in the Fields, London, on 12 December 1783. A marriage notice referred to him as "Major of the Garrison of Goree in Africa, and formerly Consul-General to the Emperor of Morocco."[1] They had three children: Charles Evelyn Daniel Francis Houghton, born on 20th September 1784; Frederick Hugh Evelyn Houghton, born on 30th August 1786; and Philippa Maria Houghton, born on 27th July 1788. Prior to his marriage to Philippa. Daniel had been married before. In the Irish National Archives there is a file[2] containing the "Memorial of Monica Kiernan, alias Lawler Lynch and James, George and Cecilia Lawler Lynch of Galway Town, to Viscount Sidmouth, seeking assistance and noting that they are the descendants of the late Maj Daniel Francis Houghton, 69th Regiment of Foot, who discovered the source of the Niger River in Africa; noting that Houghton’s only child, Catherine Cornwallis Houghton, married George Lawler Lynch. Also covering letter from George Lawler Lynch, attorney, 16 George’s Place, [Dublin], seeking a situation in the law department."
African explorer
In 1790, Houghton approached the African Association in London, proposing a mission to travel up the Gambia river and explore the hinterland of Africa's west coast. His optimism, determination and apparent fearlessness worked in his favour, as did his basic knowledge of Arabic and Mandingo. His proposal was accepted by the Association. Houghton's instructions were to sail to the mouth of the Gambia, navigate the river to the Barra Kunda falls, and then to travel overland to the Hausa lands to the east. He was also tasked with pinpointing the exact location of the fabled city of Timbuktu as well as charting the course of the Niger River.[3]
Houghton sailed for Africa in October 1790. He touched down at Barra in present-day Gambia and proceeded to the trading post upriver at Pisania. Thence, via the town of Jonkakonda, he reached the frontier of the kingdom of Wuli in early 1791. Although he was received cordially by the king, Houghton's luck did not hold. The town of Medina, where he was staying, burnt down one day in March 1791, destroying much of Houghton's possessions, including his weapons and valuable navigational equipment. More misfortunes followed, compounded by the outbreak of war between rival kingdoms on the road to Timbuktu.
Nevertheless, Houghton ploughed on, and in May 1791, he left the river/falls at Barra Kunda, pushing off overland in the direction of Timbuktu. As the Association later noted: "He had now passed the former limits of European discovery." He reached the Faleme river, the southern tributary of the Senegal river. The local ruler, however, proved hostile to the newcomer, and Houghton was robbed again. Eventually, he managed to reach the town of Ferbanna in the kingdom of Bambuk in the middle of the rainy season.
He was then approached by a trader called Madegammo who offered to take Houghton to Timbuktu for a fee. They started off on this final stage of the journey in July 1791. Houghton sent his last dispatch to the Pisania trading post in September 1791, from the village of Simbing deep in the interior. He was never heard from again.
Death
In July 1793, reports finally arrived in London confirming that Houghton had died in Africa. As the circumstances were pieced together, it appeared that Houghton had been discouraged from taking the direct route to Timbuktu. He had thus decided to travel through the desert to Tisheet in the north. But two days into the Sahara, Houghton feared that his travelling companions intended to kill him. He turned back south, alone and without any food or water, and made it to a watering-hole called Tarra. The natives camped there refused him any sustenance, and Houghton died there of starvation. His corpse was left unburied to be eaten by scavengers.
References
^Parker’s General Advertiser and Morning Intelligencer, 24 December 1783, page 3
^An chartlann náisiúnta/National Archives of Ireland, CSO/RP/1832/4387, 8 September 1832
^Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Park, Mungo" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 20 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 826.
Anthony Sattin, The Gates of Africa: Death, Discovery and the Search for Timbuktu, pp. 91–124 (HarperCollins, London, 2003).
Mungo Park, Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa, Performed in the Years 1795, 1796, and 1797. with an Account of a Subsequent Mission to that Country in 1805., pp. 101–102 (John Murray, London, 1816).
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For the English cricketer see Daniel Houghton cricketer Daniel Houghton 1740 1791 was an Irish explorer and one of the earliest Europeans to travel through the interior of West Africa Contents 1 Early life and family 2 African explorer 3 Death 4 ReferencesEarly life and family EditHoughton was born into an Irish military family c 1740 At the age of 18 he signed up with the 69th Regiment of Foot in which his father had also served He was soon promoted to the rank of lieutenant In 1772 he was stationed in the garrison at Gibraltar whence his commanding officer General Edward Cornwallis sent the young lieutenant to the court of the Moroccan emperor on a diplomatic mission The following years were full of financial hardship for Houghton In a desperate bid to change his fortune he accepted the post of engineer at the court of the Nawab of Arcot but instead of reaching India his ship abandoned its journey at the island of Goree off the African coast Here Houghton took up the post of Fort Major a role in which he continued for the next four years After he retired from the army he married and started a family He married Philippa Evelyn the great granddaughter of John Evelyn the diarist at St Martin in the Fields London on 12 December 1783 A marriage notice referred to him as Major of the Garrison of Goree in Africa and formerly Consul General to the Emperor of Morocco 1 They had three children Charles Evelyn Daniel Francis Houghton born on 20th September 1784 Frederick Hugh Evelyn Houghton born on 30th August 1786 and Philippa Maria Houghton born on 27th July 1788 Prior to his marriage to Philippa Daniel had been married before In the Irish National Archives there is a file 2 containing the Memorial of Monica Kiernan alias Lawler Lynch and James George and Cecilia Lawler Lynch of Galway Town to Viscount Sidmouth seeking assistance and noting that they are the descendants of the late Maj Daniel Francis Houghton 69th Regiment of Foot who discovered the source of the Niger River in Africa noting that Houghton s only child Catherine Cornwallis Houghton married George Lawler Lynch Also covering letter from George Lawler Lynch attorney 16 George s Place Dublin seeking a situation in the law department African explorer EditIn 1790 Houghton approached the African Association in London proposing a mission to travel up the Gambia river and explore the hinterland of Africa s west coast His optimism determination and apparent fearlessness worked in his favour as did his basic knowledge of Arabic and Mandingo His proposal was accepted by the Association Houghton s instructions were to sail to the mouth of the Gambia navigate the river to the Barra Kunda falls and then to travel overland to the Hausa lands to the east He was also tasked with pinpointing the exact location of the fabled city of Timbuktu as well as charting the course of the Niger River 3 Houghton sailed for Africa in October 1790 He touched down at Barra in present day Gambia and proceeded to the trading post upriver at Pisania Thence via the town of Jonkakonda he reached the frontier of the kingdom of Wuli in early 1791 Although he was received cordially by the king Houghton s luck did not hold The town of Medina where he was staying burnt down one day in March 1791 destroying much of Houghton s possessions including his weapons and valuable navigational equipment More misfortunes followed compounded by the outbreak of war between rival kingdoms on the road to Timbuktu Nevertheless Houghton ploughed on and in May 1791 he left the river falls at Barra Kunda pushing off overland in the direction of Timbuktu As the Association later noted He had now passed the former limits of European discovery He reached the Faleme river the southern tributary of the Senegal river The local ruler however proved hostile to the newcomer and Houghton was robbed again Eventually he managed to reach the town of Ferbanna in the kingdom of Bambuk in the middle of the rainy season He was then approached by a trader called Madegammo who offered to take Houghton to Timbuktu for a fee They started off on this final stage of the journey in July 1791 Houghton sent his last dispatch to the Pisania trading post in September 1791 from the village of Simbing deep in the interior He was never heard from again Death EditIn July 1793 reports finally arrived in London confirming that Houghton had died in Africa As the circumstances were pieced together it appeared that Houghton had been discouraged from taking the direct route to Timbuktu He had thus decided to travel through the desert to Tisheet in the north But two days into the Sahara Houghton feared that his travelling companions intended to kill him He turned back south alone and without any food or water and made it to a watering hole called Tarra The natives camped there refused him any sustenance and Houghton died there of starvation His corpse was left unburied to be eaten by scavengers References Edit Parker s General Advertiser and Morning Intelligencer 24 December 1783 page 3 An chartlann naisiunta National Archives of Ireland CSO RP 1832 4387 8 September 1832 Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Park Mungo Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 20 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 826 Anthony Sattin The Gates of Africa Death Discovery and the Search for Timbuktu pp 91 124 HarperCollins London 2003 Mungo Park Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa Performed in the Years 1795 1796 and 1797 with an Account of a Subsequent Mission to that Country in 1805 pp 101 102 John Murray London 1816 Lloyd Ernest Marsh 1901 Hoghton Daniel Dictionary of National Biography 1st supplement London Smith Elder amp Co http www bookrags com research daniel houghton ued Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Daniel Houghton amp oldid 1089503505, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
