Henry Stanley, who was sent by a
New
York
newspaper to find David Livingstone,
has had his reputation rescued by biographer Tim Jeal. 

Stanley

was born John Rowlands, an illegitimate Welsh workhouse boy who lied all his
life about his origins – he took his name from a cotton magnate who was supposed
to have adopted him, but who he probably never even met…  His explorations were stupendous, including
charting the Congo down to the Atlantic, but his reputation suffered for being
associated with King Leopold and his barbaric exploits, and then for a disastrous
attempt to relieve Emin Pasha in the Sudan post Khartoum.  He ended his days unhappily as an MP, coaxed
by his socialite wife, and was refused permission to be buried next to
Livingstone in Westminster Abbey.