Editing Macgregor Laird (section)

=== Niger voyage ===
In the early 1830s, [[Richard Lander]], an associate of [[Hugh Clapperton]], was provided a subsidy to return to Africa and find the course of the Niger. Following Lander's report of reaching the river mouth, enthusiasm for an exploratory team to West Africa grew. The report also rekindled interest in merchants looking for new markets.{{Sfn|Tanner|1978|pp=5–6}} 

In 1831, after the lower course of the Niger had been made known by Lander and his brother [[John Lander (explorer)|John]], Laird and some [[Liverpool]] merchants formed the African Inland Commercial Company to commercially develop the region.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Trade Makers: Elder Dempster in West Africa, 1852–1972, 1973–1989.|last=Davies |first=Peter N.|date=2017|publisher=Liverpool University Press|isbn=9781786949172|location=Oxford|pages=3|oclc=1020698600 |orig-date=1973}}</ref><ref name=ShippingEntrepreneur>{{cite book | title=Sir Alfred Jones: Shipping Entrepreneur Par Excellence | author=P. N. Davies | publisher=Europa Publications | year=1978 | isbn=0905118170 | url=https://archive.org/details/siralfredjonessh0000davi/ }}</ref>

Laird worked on the designs of the ships to navigate the Niger. Although the primary aim was to foster trade with the interior communities, Laird also had a personal objective of implementing Christian and humanitarian ideals.{{Sfn|Tanner|1978|pp=7–8}} 

In 1832, the company sent two small ships and a [[brig]] to the Niger. The initial plan of the expedition was to set up the brig at the [[Nun River|River Nun]], a Niger tributary with history of trade with Europeans, and two [[Paddle steamer|paddle vessels]] to navigate northwards and establish a trading post at [[Lokoja]].{{Sfn|Davies|2017|p=4}}{{Sfn|Tanner|1978|pp=10–11}} The ''Alburkah'' was a paddle-wheel steamer of fifty-five tons designed by Laird, and was the first iron vessel to make an ocean voyage. The ''Quorra'', carrying 29 men, was made of wood; it measured 112 feet in length, with a beam of 16 feet and a draft of eight feet.{{Sfn|Tanner|1978|p=32}}<ref name=TheGoldenYears>{{cite book | title=Cammell Laird: The Golden Years | year=1992 | author=David Roberts | publisher=Printwise Publications | url=https://archive.org/details/cammelllairdgold0000robe }}</ref> 

Laird was among 48 European voyagers on the expedition, which was led by Richard Lander. All but nine died from fever or, in the case of Lander, from wounds. Although two doctors came along, [[quinine]] was rarely used to treat fever that became more pronounced as they made their ascent up the river; instead, [[Miasma theory|miasma]] was thought the main contributory reason for an epidemic of fever.{{Sfn|Tanner|1978|pp=23–24}} Laird went up the Niger to the confluence of the [[Benue River]] (then called the Shary or Tchadda), which he was the first white man to ascend. He did not go far up the river but formed an accurate idea as to its source and course.{{cn|date=January 2023}}

Laird was weakened by fever and had to return to Fernando Po, where he was received by Colonel [[Edward Nicolls]], the British Governor there, who later became his father-in-law. He rested in Fernando Po before returning to England. Laird and Surgeon R.A.K. Oldfield were the only surviving officers besides Captain (then Lieutenant) [[William Allen (Royal Navy officer)|William Allen]], who accompanied the expedition on the orders of the Admiralty to survey the river.{{cn|date=January 2023}} 

In 1837, Laird and Oldfield published the ''Narrative of an Expedition into the Interior of Africa by the River Niger in 1832, 1833, 1834''.{{cn|date=January 2023}}