The first successful exploration of the Congo was by journalist Henry Morton Stanley,
between 1874 and 1877. Upon his return to Europe, Stanley petitioned the British
government to colonize the region, but he was refused. However, King Leopold II of Belgium
hired Stanley to return to the Congo to set up trading stations and establish relations with
the native chiefs. In 1876 he hosted a meeting of world explorers, saying
he wanted to develop central Africa for European trade and help advance the people in
Africa, therefore creating the International Africa Association was created. Th…
