Baker, Florence von Sass (1841–1916)

Hungarian-born explorer of Africa. Name variations: Barbara Maria Szasz; Florence Barbara Maria Szasz Baker; Florence or Florenz Finnian von Sass; Florence von Sass-Baker. Born Florence Barbara Maria Finnian von Sass (some sources claim she was born Barbara Maria Szasz), 1845, in Transylvania, Hungary (now Romania); died 1916 in England; m. Sir Samuel White Baker (explorer, governor-general of Sudan), 1859.

One of the few women to make major contributions to the exploration of Africa, was also an opponent of slavery; lived comfortable existence as child in military family in Transylvania, but was orphaned during 1848 Hungarian Revolution; abducted from refugee camp into harem in Ottoman Empire, was raised to become concubine; was sold at slave market at 14 to the pasha of Viddin but smuggled to Austro-Hungarian Empire by Sir Samuel White Baker who married her (1860); set off with husband to explore uncharted regions of Africa (1861), discovering Murchison Falls (1864), as well as the source of the Nile which they named Lake Albert (Albert Nyanza); fluent in Arabic, often acted as interpreter; returned to England where husband was granted gold medal from Royal Geographical Society and knighthood from the queen; commissioned by viceroy of Egypt, joined husband in nearly fatal quest to end slave trade in Africa; traveled with husband to southern Sudan where he served as governor-general; outlived husband by 23 years.

See also Pat Shipman, To the Heart of the Nile: Lady Florence Baker and the Exploration of Central Africa (Harper Collins, 2004).