His wanderlust whetted, Stanley decided to stay and join Livingstone’s expedition in 1871. The world would have to wait another five months for news of their lost explorer. After Livingstone’s death in 1873, Stanley completed his mentor’s final quest, then set off to forge his own legend. In his time, Stanley would explore Lake Victoria, followed the Congo River all the way west to its mouth, and help Belgium establish the Congo Free State. Livingstone’s spirit and skill lived on so forcefully in Stanley that the two names are forever linked in human history.