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The life and of Alexander Selkirk
The timeline of Alexander Selkirk -
Born
Alexander Selkirk was born in Scotland. -
Runs away to sea
In his youth he displayed a quarrelsome and unruly disposition. He was summoned before the Kirk Session in August 1693[2] for his "indecent conduct in church", but he "did not appear, being gone to sea". He was back at Largo in 1701 when he again came to the attention of church authorities for assaulting his brothers. -
The Ridding of Alexander Selkirk
In September 1704, after parting ways with Dampier,[12] Captain Straddling brought Cinque Ports to an island known to the Spanish as Más a Tierra located in the uninhabited Juan Fernández archipelago 670 km (420 mi) off the coast of Chile for a mid-expedition restocking of fresh water and supplies.[13] -
Life on the island
At first, Selkirk remained along the shoreline of Juan Fernández. During this time he ate spiny lobsters and scanned the ocean daily for rescue, suffering all the while from loneliness, misery and remorse. Hordes of raucous sea lions, gathered on the beach for the mating season, eventually drove him to the island's interior.[17] Once inland, his way of life took a turn for the better. More foods were available there: feral goats—introduced by earlier sailors—provided him with meat. -
The day he was saved
Selkirk's long-awaited deliverance came on 2 February 1709 by way of Duke,[21] a privateering ship piloted by William Dampier, and its sailing companion Duchess.[22] Thomas Dover led the landing party that met Selkirk.[23] After four years and four months without human company, Selkirk was almost incoherent with joy.[24] The Duke's captain and leader of the expedition was Woodes Rogers, who wryly referred to Selkirk as the governor of the island. -
Death
Alexander died in 1722 due to a terrible fever at sea. He was thrown into the sea at death.