Juan Maria Schuver
Encyclopedia
Juan Maria Schuver (February 26, 1852 - August 1883) was a Dutch explorer who was a native of Amsterdam
.
Son of a wealthy merchant, as a young man Schuver travelled extensively throughout Europe, the Middle East and northern Africa. At the age of 21 he worked as a private correspondent for the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Handelsblad
, covering events that took place in the Third Carlist War
in Spain. Afterwards he travelled to the Balkans
and reported for the Handelsblad involving action from the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878). In 1879 his father died and Schuver inherited a fortune. At this time he made plans to pursue a lifelong dream, to undertake a scientific expedition to the interior of Africa. He joined the Royal Geographical Society of London and took classes on various subjects in order to prepare for his upcoming journey.
In March, 1881 he reached Khartoum
with a small entourage, and subsequently spent the better part of the next two-plus years performing explorations of southeastern Sudan
, particularly the eastern watershed of the White Nile
and the hill regions surrounding the upper Blue Nile
. In southern Sudan he had a keen interest in the political and social aspects of the area, and made important historical and ethnographic observations concerning the various tribes he encountered. In August, 1883 he was fatally wounded from a spear used by a Dinka tribesman during a skirmish in Tek, a village that was a two-day journey from the garrison at Meshra-el-Rek.
Schuver maintained extensive notebooks during the expedition, and items he collected during his stay in Sudan are now housed at the National Museum of Ethnology in Leiden.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
.
Son of a wealthy merchant, as a young man Schuver travelled extensively throughout Europe, the Middle East and northern Africa. At the age of 21 he worked as a private correspondent for the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Handelsblad
Algemeen Handelsblad
Algemeen Handelsblad was an influential Amsterdam-based liberal daily newspaper, founded in 1828 by J.W. van den Biesen. At the peak of its influence -- from the time of the Boer War, when it championed the Boer cause in South Africa, through World War I -- it was edited by Charles Boissevain.It...
, covering events that took place in the Third Carlist War
Third Carlist War
The Third Carlist War was the last Carlist War in Spain. It is very often referred to as the Second Carlist War, as the 'second' had been small in scale and almost trivial in political consequence....
in Spain. Afterwards he travelled to the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
and reported for the Handelsblad involving action from the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878). In 1879 his father died and Schuver inherited a fortune. At this time he made plans to pursue a lifelong dream, to undertake a scientific expedition to the interior of Africa. He joined the Royal Geographical Society of London and took classes on various subjects in order to prepare for his upcoming journey.
In March, 1881 he reached Khartoum
Khartoum
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
with a small entourage, and subsequently spent the better part of the next two-plus years performing explorations of southeastern Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
, particularly the eastern watershed of the White Nile
White Nile
The White Nile is a river of Africa, one of the two main tributaries of the Nile from Egypt, the other being the Blue Nile. In the strict meaning, "White Nile" refers to the river formed at Lake No at the confluence of the Bahr al Jabal and Bahr el Ghazal rivers...
and the hill regions surrounding the upper Blue Nile
Blue Nile
The Blue Nile is a river originating at Lake Tana in Ethiopia. With the White Nile, the river is one of the two major tributaries of the Nile...
. In southern Sudan he had a keen interest in the political and social aspects of the area, and made important historical and ethnographic observations concerning the various tribes he encountered. In August, 1883 he was fatally wounded from a spear used by a Dinka tribesman during a skirmish in Tek, a village that was a two-day journey from the garrison at Meshra-el-Rek.
Schuver maintained extensive notebooks during the expedition, and items he collected during his stay in Sudan are now housed at the National Museum of Ethnology in Leiden.
Literature about Juan Maria Schuver
- Juan Maria Schuvers Travels in North East Africa, 1880-83. Hakluyt Society, 1996.