The Real Robinson Crusoe
Alexander Selkirk (1676-1721) was, by all accounts, an unpleasant man. He was kicked out of church, he beat up his family, he became a pirate under William Dampier (a character in his own right!).
On one expedition, he tried to mutiny but did not rally support and ended up marooned on an uninhabited island off the coast of Chile. He lived there alone for 4 years, 4 months. He had a few supplies from the ship, and he was incredibly resourceful, living in a cave, hunting wild goats, fishing, tanning and making his own clothes. He forged his own knife from found metal. He tamed some of the island cats to fend off the rats. The isolation was incredibly depressing.
On two occasions, ships actually landed at the island, but Selkirk hid from them, because they were Spanish ships that would have enslaved and/or tortured him. In 1709 one of William Dampier's ships arrived and rescued Selkirk. He went back for a little while to his home town in Scotland, but was soon off pirating again. He died and was buried at sea.
Upon his rescue, several accounts of Selkirk's ordeal were published. It is thought that his story inspired Daniel Defoe's famous novel Robinson Crusoe.
The island Selkirk stayed on was officially renamed Robinson Crusoe Island in 1966. Modern expeditions have found 18th century artifacts on the island; it's possible some of them belonged to Selkirk.
Smithsonian.com has a wonderful (long) article written by one of Selkirk's relatives.
On one expedition, he tried to mutiny but did not rally support and ended up marooned on an uninhabited island off the coast of Chile. He lived there alone for 4 years, 4 months. He had a few supplies from the ship, and he was incredibly resourceful, living in a cave, hunting wild goats, fishing, tanning and making his own clothes. He forged his own knife from found metal. He tamed some of the island cats to fend off the rats. The isolation was incredibly depressing.
On two occasions, ships actually landed at the island, but Selkirk hid from them, because they were Spanish ships that would have enslaved and/or tortured him. In 1709 one of William Dampier's ships arrived and rescued Selkirk. He went back for a little while to his home town in Scotland, but was soon off pirating again. He died and was buried at sea.
Upon his rescue, several accounts of Selkirk's ordeal were published. It is thought that his story inspired Daniel Defoe's famous novel Robinson Crusoe.
The island Selkirk stayed on was officially renamed Robinson Crusoe Island in 1966. Modern expeditions have found 18th century artifacts on the island; it's possible some of them belonged to Selkirk.
Smithsonian.com has a wonderful (long) article written by one of Selkirk's relatives.
