Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History. I’m your host, Colin MacDonald, and today, December 13, we set sail on the remarkable story of Alexander Selkirk, the Scottish sailor whose extraordinary life inspired one of literature’s most enduring characters, Robinson Crusoe. On this day in 1721, Selkirk died off the coast of West Africa, concluding a life marked by adventure, survival, and a legendary tale of isolation.

Born in 1676 in the small fishing village of Lower Largo, Fife, Selkirk was the son of a shoemaker. From an early age, he displayed a rebellious spirit and a knack for trouble. After several run-ins with church authorities, he found his way to the sea, joining buccaneering voyages during the War of the Spanish Succession. These voyages eventually led him to the South Pacific aboard the Cinque Ports, a ship commanded by Captain Thomas Stradling.

In 1704, the Cinque Ports stopped at the uninhabited Juan Fernández Islands off the coast of Chile to resupply. Selkirk, convinced the ship was unseaworthy, demanded to be left ashore rather than risk continuing the voyage. His instincts proved correct—the ship later sank—but his decision left him stranded alone on the island of Más a Tierra. Equipped with only a few provisions, including a musket, a hatchet, a knife, and a Bible, Selkirk faced the daunting challenge of survival.

At first, his isolation filled him with despair. He scoured the shoreline for rescue and subsisted on lobsters, all the while battling loneliness. Over time, he adapted. He moved inland to escape the noisy sea lions and found an abundance of resources. Feral goats provided him with meat and milk, while wild turnips, cabbage tree leaves, and pink peppercorns supplemented his diet. He tanned goat hides for clothing and built shelters from local vegetation. To combat the nightly onslaught of rats, he domesticated wild cats, creating an unusual companionship that brought him some solace.

Selkirk’s resilience turned his ordeal into a triumph. He survived for more than four years, honing skills that made him a master of his environment. His solitude was interrupted only by brief and dangerous encounters with Spanish ships. Once, he narrowly escaped capture by hiding in a tree while sailors urinated at its base. Despite these close calls, Selkirk endured, relying on his resourcefulness and faith to sustain him.

His rescue came on February 2, 1709, when the privateering ship Duke, captained by Woodes Rogers, anchored at the island. Selkirk was overjoyed to be reunited with other humans, though his years of solitude had made him somewhat awkward in their presence. Rogers, impressed by his vitality and adaptability, referred to him as the “governor of the island.” Selkirk’s skills proved invaluable to the Duke’s crew, as he helped restore their health by hunting fresh food.

Returning to Britain, Selkirk’s story captivated the public. Accounts of his experience appeared in print, including in Rogers’ book chronicling the voyage. His tale inspired Daniel Defoe’s The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, published in 1719. While Defoe fictionalized the account and relocated the story to the Caribbean, Selkirk’s survival and ingenuity formed the backbone of Crusoe’s character.

Despite his newfound fame, Selkirk struggled to reintegrate into society. Legal disputes over his earnings as a privateer and his restless nature led him back to sea. In 1721, while serving as a lieutenant aboard HMS Weymouth on anti-piracy patrols off West Africa, Selkirk contracted yellow fever. He died on December 13, 1721, at the age of 45, and was buried at sea.

Selkirk’s legacy endures. His birthplace in Lower Largo features a statue and plaque commemorating his life, while the island where he lived has been renamed Robinson Crusoe Island in honor of his story and its literary legacy. Archaeological findings on the island, including fragments of navigational tools, further cement his place in history as a real-life castaway.

The tale of Alexander Selkirk continues to inspire. His resilience, ingenuity, and perseverance in the face of isolation remind us of the strength of the human spirit. From the rugged shores of the Juan Fernández Islands to the pages of world literature, his story remains a beacon of survival against all odds.

Thank you for joining me today on This Day in Scottish History. I’m Colin MacDonald, and I hope you’ll tune in tomorrow for another journey into Scotland’s remarkable past. Haste Ye Back!

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