Who is Sir Henry Morton Stanley from King Leopold's Ghost and what is their importance?

Sir Henry Morton Stanley (1841 - 1904) was a Welsh explorer and journalist, famous for several expeditions to Africa. He is probably most remembered for the successful search for Dr. David Livingstone, culminating in the famous utterance "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?" Born John Rowlands in Denbigh, Wales, Stanley was the bastard son of Betsy Parry. He lived with various relatives for several years until eventually being sent to St. Asaph Union Workhouse for the poor.