Born January 11, 1810
Tübingen, Germany
Died November 26, 1881,
Korntal, Germany

During the nineteenth century mission work intensified throughout Africa. European missionaries established stations in remote locations for the purpose of bringing Christianity to native peoples through religious education and medical assistance. They were instrumental in furthering European settlement and commercial expansion in previously unknown regions. Many missionaries were also explorers; among them were such well-known figures as David Livingstone, the Scottish medical missionary who explored the African lake system. Another was Ludwig Krapf. In the process of seeking sites for mission stations in East Africa, Krapf made important geographical discoveries that aided Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke (see separate entries) in finding the source of the Nile River.

Johann Ludwig Krapf was born the son of a farmer in the village of Derendingen near the south German city of Tübingen on...