David Livingston was born March 19, 1813. He was born near Glasgow, Scotland. He studied medicine and theology at the University of Glasgow. He tried to go to China as a missionary in 1838, but the Opium War in China closed the doors. He went to be a missionary in Africa instead.

He was pushed 200 miles north of his assigned station and founded another mission station, Mebosta. Livingstone continued on the mission field and went 1400 more miles into the interior part of Africa in spite of all the hard things he encountered. He was attacked and maimed by a lion. His home was destroyed during the Boer War. His wife also died on the mission field.

David Livingstone was not just a missionary. He was also a very good explorer. He opened up much of Africa to missions. Many of the villages he visited had never even heard of Christianity before. After Livingstone traveled to Africa it opened it up to many more missionaries to follow in his footsteps. Before he was there not many people went to the very remote places he witnessed in.

He reached and helped many people in Africa. Not only did he spread the word and lead people to Christ, but he also saved many people from dying. He would go around to the many villages and tell people about Christ. While he was there he would take care of any medical problems they had. He not only saved peoples lives spiritually, but he also saved them physically.

Eleven years after he first traveled to Africa, Livingstone died. On May 1, 1873 he was found dead in his room. When they found his body he was kneeling beside his bed. Some people believe that he died doing the very thing he loved to do most, talk to God. Natives buried his heart in Africa, as he had requested, but his body was returned to Westminster Abbey in London.