Lawrence of Arabia

T. E. Lawrence, 1935

10 Apr 2015 | From Erica of USA

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

Thomas Edward Lawrence (16 August 1888 ~ 19 May 1935) was a British archaeological scholar, adventurer, military strategist, diplomat, and the writer of The Seven Pillars of Wisdom (1927). He was renowned for his liaison role during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign, and the Arab Revolt against Ottoman Turkish rule of 1916–18. T.E. Lawrence was better known in his lifetime as 'Lawrence of Arabia' because of the dashing role he played in helping the Arabs against the Turks during World War I.

Lawrence was born in Tremadoc, Caernarvonshire, Wales, the illegitimate son of Thomas Chapman. His father left his wife, who had refused to allow a divorce.  He set up a new home with Sarah Junner, a woman who had been governess in his household.  Lawrence was the third son of this union. At 31 Lawrence was an international celebrity but, embittered by his country's Middle East policies, he chose a life of obscurity and died at the age of 46 after a motorcycle accident.

Lawrence's public image resulted in part from the sensationalised reportage of the Arab revolt by an American journalist, Lowell Thomas, as well as from Lawrence's autobiographical account Seven Pillars of Wisdom.