 He is also known for propounding the Hamitic hypothesis in 1863, in which he supposed that the Wahuma ethnic group were descendants of the biblical figure Ham, and had lighter skin and more Hamitic features than the Bantu over whom they ruled.Speke was born on 4 May 1827 at Orleigh Court, Buckland Brewer, near Bideford, North Devon.In 1844 he was commissioned into the British Army and posted to India, where he served in the 46th Bengal Native Infantry under Sir Hugh Gough during the Punjab campaign and under Sir Colin Campbell during the First Anglo-Sikh War.