Richard Lemon Lander (February 8, 1804 - February 6, 1834), British explorer of the African continent.

Lander was the son of an innkeeper. Lander worked, as his assistant, for the Scottish explorer Hugh Clapperton, and went with him on a trip to West Africa in 1825. Clapperton died in April 1827 near Sokoto. Lander was the only surviving Europian member of the expeditions. He proceeded southeast and returned to England in July 1828.

Lander returned to West Africa in 1830. He was accompanied by his brother John Lander. They landed on Badagri in March 22 1830 and followed the lower Niger River from Bussa to the sea. After they explored about 160 km Niger River upstream, they returning and explored Benue River and the Niger's coastal delta. They traveled in leaky canoes. The brothers returned to Britain in 1831.

In 1832 Lander went to Africa again as leader of an expedition organized by Macgregor Laird and other Liverpool merchants to open up trade on the Niger and to found a commercial settlement at the junction of the Benue with the main stream. The expedition encountered many difficulties, suffered great mortality from fever, and was not able to reach Bussa. Lander made several journeys up and down stream, and while going up the river in a canoe was attacked by African tribesmen, and wounded by a musket ball in the thigh. Lander managed to return to the coast, but he died of injuries.

Lander published:

• Journal of Richard Lander from Kano to the Sea Coast, 1829
• Records of Captain Clapperton's Last Expeditions to Africa, with the Subsequent Adwentures of the Author, 1830
• Journal of an Expedition to Explore the Course and Termination of the Niger, 1832

See also

• List of explorers
• Explorations