born May 3, 1827, Bideford, Devon, Eng.
died Sept. 15, 1864, Corsham, Wiltshire
British explorer.
He was a member of Tanganyika . On the return trip he left Burton and struck out northward alone. In July 1858 he reached a great lake, which he named Lake {{link=Victoria, Lake">Victoria , for the queen. His claim that it was the source of the Nile was questioned, but on a second expedition (1860–63) he found the Nile's exit from the lake. Speke's claim to have found the Nile's source was again challenged in England. He was killed by his own gun while hunting on the very day he was to debate Burton publicly.