First commercial Niger expedition using iron steamers

In 1832 Macgregor Laird and Richard Lander led the first commercial Niger expedition, deploying two iron steamers—the Quorra and the Alburkah—purpose-built for river navigation. The expedition proved that iron-hulled steamers could navigate the Niger but suffered catastrophic mortality from malaria: of 48 Europeans on the expedition, 39 died. Despite the human cost the voyage demonstrated the commercial potential of the Niger route.