Thomas Edward Lawrence
- Born:
- August 16, 1888, Tremadog, Caernarvonshire, Wales
- Died:
- May 19, 1935, near Bovington Camp, Dorset, England
- Nationality:
- British
- Profession(s):
- British Intelligence Officer, Diplomat, Archaeologist, Writer
Early Life and Education
- Born out of wedlock to Thomas Chapman and Sarah Junner (who called herself Lawrence).
- Attended Jesus College, Oxford, graduating with First Class Honours in Modern History in 1910.
- Developed a keen interest in archaeology, travelling extensively in the Middle East before World War I.
Career and Major Achievements
- Served as an intelligence officer in Cairo during World War I.
- Played a key role in the Arab Revolt (1916-1918), liaising with Arab leaders, notably Prince Faisal.
- Advised the British government on Arab affairs after the war.
- Enlisted in the Royal Air Force under the name John Hume Ross (later T.E. Shaw) to escape public attention.
- Transferred to the Royal Tank Corps before eventually returning to the RAF.
Notable Works
- Seven Pillars of Wisdom (1922, privately printed; 1926, abridged version Revolt in the Desert; 1935, posthumous full publication) – An account of his experiences in the Arab Revolt.
- The Mint (1955, posthumous publication) – An account of his time in the Royal Air Force.
- Translations: Le Gigantesque (Hogarth Press, 1924) – a translation of Adrien Le Corbeau's Le Gigantesque, and The Forest Giant (Jonathan Cape, 1935).
Legacy and Impact
Thomas Edward Lawrence, often known as Lawrence of Arabia, remains a figure of both admiration and controversy. His role in the Arab Revolt and his subsequent writings have cemented his place in history, but his motives and the accuracy of his accounts have been debated extensively.