Paul Belloni Du Chaillu (1835–1903)

French explorer. Undertook an exploring expedition to Central Africa, 1856–60. Collected rare birds and animals, bringing to America the first gorillas seen there. His controversial account of the journey, Explorations and adventures in equatorial Africa (1861), was greeted with scepticism; however, later travellers confirmed many of his findings. Revisited Africa, 1863–5. Resided in New York, 1867–71. After 1871, studied Scandinavia and Russia.