Mary Livingstone (1821-1862)

Description:

Born in 1821 in Griquatown (present-day Griekwastad, South Africa), Mary was the eldest daughter of Robert and Mary Moffat. Growing up on Kuruman mission station, Mary was fluent in Tswana, the language of the local BaTswana people. She travelled to Britain for the first time in 1839 when accompanying her parents who were home from Kuruman on leave. Returning to South Africa four years later, she met David Livingstone and they were married on 9 January 1845.

In their early years together, Mary and David set up three mission stations and travelled extensively. Her ability to speak Tswana and her experience living and working on remote outposts were essential to the couple's survival. During their 17 years of marriage, the couple had six children. Mary is shown here in her late thirties wearing a miniature portrait of David around her neck.