Henry Morton StanleyHenry Morton Stanley GCB (1841-1904), became well-known for his encounter with missionary David Livingstone in 1871. Through his memories, we see how his difficult upbringing-an underprivileged childhood spent in a workhouse and some terrifying event as a young soldier-was what inspired him to become a successful explorer and gave him the resolve to face the occasionally vehement opposition he faced. The Welsh-American explorer, journalist, soldier, colonial administrator, author, and politician Sir Henry Morton Stanley GCB (born John Rowlands; 28 January 1841 - 10 May 1904) is best known for in search of missionary and explorer David Livingstone, who he later claimed to have met and greeted with the now-famous words: "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?" The false assumption that he was American hurt his reputation in Britain at the time. His involvement in the creation of the Congo Free State for King Leopold II in the 20th century also did significant damage to his reputation. John Rowlands gave birth to Henry Stanley in Denbigh, Denbighshire, Wales. When he was born, his mother Elizabeth Parry was 18 years old. She cut off all contact when he was a very little infant and abandoned him. Read More Read Less