June 09

William Grant Stairs was a Canadian-born British Army officer renowned for his role in 19th-century African exploration. He served under Henry Morton Stanley during the Emin Pasha Relief Expedition, navigating challenging terrain and complex political landscapes in Central Africa. Stairs also led expeditions to the Katanga region, playing a controversial role in the colonial expansion of King Leopold II’s Congo Free State. His disciplined leadership and cartographic skills contributed to European geographic knowledge of the continent. Stairs's explorations embodied both the adventurous spirit and the imperial ambitions of his era.