William Stanger (surveyor)

William Stanger (27 September 1811 in Tydd St. Mary, Wisbech – 14 March 1854 in Durban) was best known as a surveyor-general in South Africa, but was also a geologist, botanist and medical doctor. He was the son of Willam Stanger and Mary Dent. He studied medicine and natural science at Edinburgh University, and after returning from a trip to Australia and New Zealand, ran a practice in London for some time.

William Stanger took part as geologist and doctor in the ill-fated 1841 British expedition to the Niger. Three vessels steamed about 320 miles up the Niger and Chadda. Treaties were signed with the two black Princes of Eboe and Iddah, agreeing to the abolition of the slave trade and of human sacrifices, and the signatories were then left to resume their normal practices. An extract from a letter written on board the "Æthiope" on 21 October 1841 - "We entered the Nun on the 10th inst., and proceeded up the river the next morning, and fell in with the "Albert" on the evening of the 13th inst. at Stirling Island, about 24 miles below Eboe. We found her in a worse state than the "Wilberforce"; all hands down with fever but for Drs M'William, Stanger, a scientific gentleman, a marine, the boatswain's mate, and a servant. Captain Trotter very weak, Captain Bird Allen (who is since dead) very low; no engineers; Dr. Stanger was endeavouring to work the engine the best way he could. We sent our head engineer on board, and the "Albert" followed the "Æthiope" to the coast. Captain Becroft then went on board the "Albert", and took her to Fernando Po." - The Times, 27 January 1842

And from the report of Captain Trotter: "From want of engineers we should have had to drop down the whole length of the river without steam, had not Dr. Stanger, the geologist, in the most spirited manner, after consulting Tredgold's work on steam, and getting some little instruction from the convalescent engineer, undertaken to work the engine himself. The heat of the engine-room affected the engineer so much as to throw him back in his convalescence, and prevent him rendering any further assistance, but Dr. Stanger took the vessel safely below Eboe, without anything going wrong with the machinery."

...
Wikipedia