William Henry Sheppard was an early African American missionary to the Congo Free State in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was a missionary in Africa, ethnographer, art collector, and human rights advocate. He is known for his work in exposing the atrocities committed against the Congolese people under King Leopold II of Belgium. Sheppard’s courage and advocacy brought international attention to the human rights abuses occurring in the region. He was also a fellow of the Royal Geographic Society and a pastor in Louisville, Kentucky.
