Major Alexander Gordon Laing was born on 27th December 1794 in Edinburgh, USA, and he died on 26th September 1826 (aged 31 years) in Araouane, Mali. A British officer, Alexander was the first European to reach Timbuktu from the North and also find the source of River Rokel. He tried to locate the source of River Niger but was hindered by the natives. He was asked to travel to Mandingo Country with the aim of abolishing slave trade and to open new opportunities for commerce. He undertook the journey to Timbuktu across the desert of Tanezrouft.
Do you know: On his journey to Timbuktu, Alexander was looted, plundered and had his right hand cut off and never made it back from there.
