Daniel Houghton (1740–1791) was an Irish explorer and one of the earliest Europeans to travel through the interior of West Africa. Early life and family Houghton was born into an Irish military family c. 1740. At the age of 18, he signed up with the 69th Regiment of Foot, in which his father had also served. He was soon promoted to the rank of lieutenant. In 1772, he was stationed in the garrison at Gibraltar, whence his commanding officer General Edward Cornwallis sent the young lieutenant to the court of the Moroccan emperor on a diplomatic mission. The following years were full of financial hardship for Houghton. In a desperate bid to change his fortune, he accepted the post of engineer at the court of the Nawab of Arcot, but instead of reaching India, his ship abandoned its journey at the island of Gorée off the African coast. Here, Houghton took up the post of Fort-Major, a role in which he continued for the next four years. After he retired from the army he married and started a family. He married Philippa Evelyn, the great-granddaughter of John Evelyn, the diarist, at St Martin in the Fields, London, on 12 December 1783. A marriage notice referred to him as "Major of the Garrison of Goree in Africa, and formerly Consul-General to the Emperor of Morocco." They had three children: Charles Evelyn Daniel Francis Houghton, born on 20th September 1784; Frederick Hugh Evelyn Houghton, born on 30th August 1786; and Philippa Maria Houghton, born on 27th July 1788. Prior to his marriage to Philippa. Daniel had been married before. In the Irish National Archives there is a file containing the "Memorial of Monica Kiernan, alias Lawler Lynch and James, George and Cecilia Lawler Lynch of Galway Town, to Viscount Sidmouth, seeking assistance and noting that they are the descendants of the late Maj Daniel Francis Houghton, 69th Regiment of Foot, who discovered the source of the Niger River in Africa; noting that Houghton’s only child, Catherine Cornwallis Houghton, married George Lawler Lynch. Also covering letter from George Lawler Lynch, attorney, 16 George’s Place, [Dublin], seeking a situation in the law department." African explorer In 1790, Houghton approached the African Association in London, proposing a mission to travel up the Gambia river and explore the hinterland of Africa's west coast. His optimism, determination and apparent fearlessness worked in his favour, as did his