Eduard Robert Flegel

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Eduard Robert Flegel (October 13, 1855 - September 11, 1886) was a German explorer who played an important role in the Scramble for Africa.

Born in Vilna, Lithuania, Flegel trained as a merchant before travelling to Lagos in 1875, where, in 1879 opportunity arose to take part in an expedition along the River Niger.

Flegel undertook further study of the Benue River and in 1880 travelled up the Niger to Sokoto. There, he obtained leave from the sultan for an expedition to the Adamawa Plateau. During his exploration of the Benue, he identified its source during 1882-1884.

After a brief sojourn in Europe, Flegel returned to Africa on a commission to thwart British trade by asserting German commercial influence in the Niger and Benue basins. His efforts were largely unsuccessful with George Taubman Goldie's National African Company maintaining its ascendancy.

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] Works by Flegel

• Lose Blätter aus dem Tagebuch meiner Haussa-Freunde und Reisegefährten (1885) (Loose Leaves from the Diary of My Hausa Friends and Travel Companions)
• Vom Niger-Benüe (1890) (Concerning the Niger-Benue)