Research topic: Paul Belloni Du Chaillu

Paul Belloni Du Chaillu , c.1831-1903, French-American explorer in Africa. Born probably in Paris, he spent his youth on the west coast of Africa, where his father was a trader in Gabon. There he learned the native languages and became interested in exploring the interior. Arriving in the United States in 1852, he became a citizen and gained the support of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences for an expedition to explore Gabon. On his explorations (1855-59), he captured many rare birds and animals, some of them previously unknown to science. He brought back the first gorillas to be seen... Read more