Dixon Denham

Dixon Denham ( born January 1, 1786 in London, † 8 May 1828 in Freetown ) was a British explorer and first governor of Sierra Leone.

Denham was educated at the military school in London. He later served in Spain in the fight against Napoleon, and also made the campaign in the Netherlands.

In 1821 he received permission to join an expedition into the interior of Clapperton and Oudney of Africa. The passengers broke out in February 1822 from Tripoli to Mursuk in Fezzan and reached on 4 November Lake Chad. Denham determined the location of the lake and then went to Kuka, the residence of the Sultan of Bornu. He accompanied him on an expedition against the Fulani, was himself taken prisoner there, but was able to escape again. He returned with the defeated army to Bornu.

Later he traveled to the city, in the south of Lake Chad mouth of the Shari, but could not continue. He again met with Clapperton and went with this to Sokoto. In April 1824 Denham returned via Tripoli to Italy, France and England back.

Dixon Denham was appointed Superintendent and later appointed governor of Sierra Leone.