Baikie, William Balfour (1824–1864)

British explorer and naturalist. In 1854 he joined the Pleiad expedition, sent to explore the River Niger. On the death of the chief officer Baikie took command, and succeeded in going 400 km/248 mi further than any previous explorer. He subsequently established a large settlement at Lokoja, opened up the navigation of the Niger, and developed the area by roadbuilding and other projects.

Born Kirkwall, Orkney, Baikie obtained his MD degree at Edinburgh in 1848 and became a naval surgeon. It was as surgeon and naturalist that he enrolled in the Pleiad expedition, before becoming its commander. In 1857 he took the ship up the Niger once more, but this time it was wrecked and his party returned home. Baikie remained in the country, however, where he came to exercise considerable influence.