Thomas Edward Lawrence, also known as “Lawrence of Arabia”, was a British archaeologist, diplomat, and soldier who fought with Arab troops during World War I. He rose to fame due to his role in the Arab insurrection against the Turkish state. Lawrence was an intelligent and enigmatic man, and his life has been obscured by legend and hyperbole. He published a book in 1927 called The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, discussing his experiences during the war. Lawrence died in a motorcycle accident in 1935.
Thomas Edward Lawrence was a British archaeologist, diplomat and soldier who rose to prominence after World War I as “Lawrence of Arabia”, due to his role in the Arab insurrection against the Turkish state. TE Lawrence was an interesting and enigmatic man, and many of the details of his life have been obscured by legend and hyperbole, making it difficult to distinguish fact from fiction. He lives on in the form of movies like Lawrence of Arabia, which popularized his story about him and made him famous in the English-speaking world.
Lawrence was born in Wales in 1888 and proved extremely intelligent, even at an early age. He ended up studying at Oxford, traveling the Middle East to visit various historical sites during his time at Oxford, and eventually took a position as a field archaeologist working in the Middle East. When the First World War broke out, the British government realized that his position as an archaeologist was an ideal cover, and TE Lawrence found himself Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence, working first in Palestine and then in other parts of the Middle East.
During World War I, TE Lawrence fought with Arab troops, helping to lead an Arab insurrection against the Turks, hoping to bring down the Ottoman Empire in the rear as British and Australian forces attacked from the Mediterranean. During his wartime stint, Lawrence adopted a number of Middle Eastern customs and was often photographed in traditional Arab dress. He was also followed for a while by a director, Lowell Thomas, who ended up making the film of him famous.
The footage Thomas shot became an immense success after World War I, much to the vocal dismay of Lawrence, who repeatedly stated that he wanted to be remembered as an ordinary man, not a war hero. After the war, Lawrence continued to work for the Foreign Service, publishing a book in 1927 called The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, discussing his experiences during the war. The book continues to be widely printed and read, fueling the mystique of Lawrence of Arabia.
Little is known about TE Lawrence’s personal life, although there have been all sorts of salacious speculations. It seems evident that he was a cultured, forward-thinking and intelligent man who enjoyed working with Middle Easterners and studying archaeology. Judging by his many letters, many of which have been collected and published, Lawrence lived an amazing and varied life, and was recognized during his lifetime with a number of honours, including the Order of the Bath. Shortly after his retirement in 1935, Lawrence died in a motorcycle accident and was buried in Dorset, England.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
