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Top 10 Sensational Facts about Thomas Edward Lawrence
Thomas Edward Lawrence was a British army officer with a passion for archaeology and writing. Lawrence is famous for playing the role of a liaison to the Arabs against the Turks who were assisted by the British military. This happened during the Arab Revolt between the years 1916 and 1918. Having coordinated the rebellion, Lawrence earned the name Lawrence of Arabia.
T.E Lawrence as he referred to himself, was acknowledged for his contribution to the Sinai and Palestine Campaign, from 1915 to 1918. The campaign opposed the Ottoman Empire during the period of World War I. Get insights into the life of Lawrence of Arabia in these 10 captivating truths about Thomas Edward Lawrence.
1. Lawrence was below average in height
Thomas Edward Lawrence photo by Lowell Thomas-
Thomas Lawrence stood at 5 foot 5 inches, while the average height at the time was 5 foot 9 inches. The cause of his stunted growth was associated with a case of mumps when he was a child.
2. Thomas Edward Lawrence’s family name was a pseudonym
Lawrence brothers 1910, photo-
The name Lawrence was not the original family name of Thomas Edward. His parents Thomas Chapman and Sarah Lawrence assumed the name, Lawrence. This happened when they moved to live together as a couple. The two never wed.
Sarah worked as a governess to the four daughters of Thomas Chapman. But, while working at Chapman鈥檚 estate, she had a love affair with Chapman and got pregnant. Sarah was moved by Chapman to Dublin to cover up their affair but Edith Hamilton his wife found out.
Thus, Thomas Chapman left his wife Edith in the year 1886 and started a new life with Sarah in Wales. Chapman and Sarah never married. So, they assumed the name Lawrence which was Sarah鈥檚 surname and identified with it as their family name. The union brought forth five sons among them Thomas Edward Lawrence. He was second and was born on August 16, 1888, in Tremadog, Carnarvonshire, Wales.
3. T.E. Lawrence’s upbringing inspired his adventures in life
Sarah Lawrence and her children photo by Thomas Lawrence-
Thomas Lawrence grew up in different parts. His family moved from Wales to Kirkcudbright, then to Galloway, in southwestern Scotland, later to Dinard in Brittany and finally to Jersey.
It is no surprise that all five sons of Lawrence were born in different countries. Robert the eldest son was born in Ireland, and Edward the second son was born in Wales. The third was William born in Scotland, in fourth place was Frank born in Jersey and the last born Arnold was born in Britain.
4. Thomas Lawrence found his passion in archaeology as early as 15 years
Lawrence who was a teenager at 15 years, cycled with his friend Cyril Beeson. They visited parish churches in most villages in Oxford. The aim was to study the antiquities and monuments.
They took anything they discovered in their finding to the Ashmolean Museum. The museum recognised their efforts in a report released in 1906. The report appreciated that whatever the museum possessed of antiquarian value, was found by Beeson and Lawrence.
5. Archaeology earned T.E. Lawrence a spot in the British military
The success of T.E. Lawrence in archaeology was noted by the British military. He graduated with First Class Honours from Jesus College, Oxford. His thesis on archaeology was proof of his commitment to the field. Lawrence also received an offer to practise archaeology at Carchemish. This was an odyssey that D. G. Hogarth was mandated to steer on behalf of the British Museum.
Lawrence was invited alongside Woolley in January 1914 to join the British military as an archaeological smokescreen. They received funding from Palestine Exploration Fund to undertake archaeological expeditions.
6. Thomas Edward Lawrence learnt seven languages to be able to fit in when he went on archaeological expeditions
T. E. Lawrence and L. Woolley at Carchemish (1913)-
Lawrence put into consideration, the opportunity offered in Carchemish, to practise as an archaeologist. Before he took up the expedition challenge, Edward went to Beirut and Byblos in December 1910 to study Arabic.
Lawrence also spoke French, German, Latin, and Greek as a native. In August 1907 during one of his France visits, Lawrence expressed that the locals appreciated his French. They asked him from which part of France he hailed as his command of the French language was excellent.
7. Lawrence left his desk to join the action when his brothers died in World War I
Thomas Lawrence was angered by losing his younger brothers Frank and Will who died in May and October of 1915. This stirred Lawrence to leave his intelligence desk job in Cairo. He joined the revolt against the Turkish Ottoman Empire, in January 1917.
8. T.E. Lawrence rejected the King’s honour
Lawrence was summoned by King George V on October 30, 1918, at Buckingham Palace. Lawrence expected the King鈥檚 call was a discussion on the independence of the Arabs. The British government had failed to honour their freedom promise to the Arabs. To Edward鈥檚 astonishment, King George V had called to knight him. Lawrence declined the gift and left the palace.
9. Thomas Lawrence was noted by the noble
Lawrence was appointed by Winston Churchill as his advisor at the Colonial Office in February of 1920. Thomas served for over a year.
10. T.E. Lawrence was renamed, John Hume Ross
Edward Lawrence’s finances were worn out by his effort to publish an autobiography. Thus, the only option Lawrence saw fit to salvage his financial situation was to enlist in the Royal Air Force under another name. Lawrence went by the pseudonym, John Hume Ross.
Lawrence had his identity revealed by the press and so, he was discharged a few months after using his new name. After the uncovering, he joined the Royal Tank Corps, where he was frustrated by the assignment. Thus, he made a petition to return to the Royal Air Force and Lawrence prevailed. T.E. Lawrence served from 1925 to 1935.
Thomas Edward Lawrence died on 19, May 1935 as a result of a motorcycle accident. The accident occurred on 13, May 1935 and caused Lawrence massive brain damage that resulted in his death at 46 years of age.
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