Alexandre Alberto da Rocha de Serpa Pinto (April 10, 1846 - December 28, 1900), Portuguese explorer in Africa, was born at the castle of Polchras, on the Douro. April 10 is the 100th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (101st in leap years). ... 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... December 28 is the 362nd day of the year (363rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 3 days remaining. ... 1900 is a common year starting on Monday. ... A satellite composite image of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest continent in both area and population, after Asia. ... View of the river mouth from Portos Crystal Palace Gardens, facing West Douro (Latin Durius, Spanish Duero, Portuguese Douro) is one of the major rivers of Portugal and Spain, flowing from its source near Soria across central Spain and Portugal to its outlet at Oporto. ...

Entering the army in 1864, he served in Mozambique, and in 1869 took part in an expedition against tribes in revolt on the lower Zambezi. In 1877 he and Captains Capello and Ivens of the Portuguese navy were sent on an expedition to south central Africa. The explorers left Benguella in November 1877 for the interior, but Serpa Pinto soon parted from his colleagues, who went north, while Serpa Pinto continued east. He crossed the Kwando in June 1878, and in August reached Lialui, the Barotse capital on the Zambezi, where he received help from the Rev. F Coillard which enabled him to continue his journey down the river to the Victoria Falls, whence he turned south, arriving at Pretoria on February 12, 1879. Zambezi River in North Western Zambia The Zambezi (also spelled Zambesi) is a river in Southern Africa. ... Benguela is a port in western Angola, south of Luanda. ... Victoria Falls from the far side of the gorge Victoria Falls is one of the worlds most spectacular waterfalls. ... The central area of Pretoria. ... February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1879 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

He was the fourth explorer to traverse Africa from west to east, and was the first to lay down with approximate accuracy the route between Bihe and Lialui. Among other rewards the Royal Geographical Society of London awarded him (1881) the Founder's medal. The account of his travels appeared in English under the title How I crossed Africa (2 vols, London, 1881). The Royal Geographical Society is a learned society, founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical science, under the patronage of King William IV. It absorbed the African Association founded by Joseph Banks in 1788. ...

In 1884 he attempted, with less success, the exploration of the regions between Mozambique and Lake Nyasa. Appointed governor of Mozambique in 1889, he organized an expedition with the object of securing for Portugal the Shire highlands and neighbouring regions, but the vigorous action of the British agents (John Buchanan and HH Johnston) frustrated this design. Shortly afterwards Serpa Pinto returned to Lisbon and was promoted to the rank of colonel. 1884 is a leap year starting on Tuesday (click on link to calendar). ... A view of the lake from Likoma Island Lake Malawi, originally known as Lake Nyasa, Lake Nyassa and Lake Niassa after the Yao word for lake, is the most southerly lake in the Great African Rift Valley system. ... 1889 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Lisbon (in Portuguese, Lisboa) is the capital and largest city of Portugal. ...

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica. The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ... The Eleventh Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica (1911) in many ways represents the sum of knowledge at the beginning of the 20th century. ...