About
Thomas Edward Lawrence, known as T. E. Lawrence, was born in Wales in 1888. Trained as an archaeologist, he participated in excavations at Carchemish before World War I. During the Arab Revolt, he served as a liaison officer to Emir Faisal and led guerrilla operations. After the war, he advocated for Arab independence at the Paris Peace Conference. He later served as an adviser at the Colonial Office, then enlisted in the RAF under a pseudonym. He is the author of Seven Pillars of Wisdom, an account of his wartime experiences. He died in 1935 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.
* 1888-08-16 — † 1935-05-19
Major works
- The Seven Pillars of Wisdom (1926)memoir
- Revolt in the Desert (1927)memoir (abridged)
- The Mint (1955)memoir
- Crusader Castles (1936)historical study
- The Wilderness of Zin (1915)archaeological report
Key milestones
- 1917Participated in the capture of Aqaba during the Arab Revolt.
- 1922Enlisted in the Royal Air Force under the pseudonym J.H. Ross.
- 1927Legally changed his name to T.E. Shaw.
Themes
War and guerrilla warfareIdentity and pseudonymityArchaeology and historyArab independenceMilitary experience
Sources: archives.bodleian.ox.ac.uk · britisharchaeology.ashmus.ox.ac.uk · egyptartefacts.griffith.ox.ac.uk
