events
August 18, 1826
Major Gordon Laing becomes the first European to enter Timbuktu.
Alexander Gordon Laing
Major Alexander Gordon Laing was a Scottish explorer and the first European to reach Timbuktu, arriving there via the north-to-south route in August 1826. He was killed shortly after he departed Timbuktu, some five weeks later.
Timbuktu
Timbuktu is an ancient city in Mali, situated 20 kilometres north of the Niger River. It is the capital of the Tombouctou Region, one of the eight administrative regions of Mali, having a population of 32,460 in the 2018 census.
August 18
August 18 is the 230th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 135 days remain until the end of the year.