Marooned:

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be stranded on a deserted island? The story of Alexander Selkirk takes us on an extraordinary journey of survival and resilience. As an Englishman, Selkirk had a deep affection for his mother tongue, appreciating its unique idioms and peculiar words. Little did he know that his own life would become a fascinating tale that would inspire generations.

One of the phrases that comes to mind when thinking about Selkirk's adventure is "a different kettle of fish." His story was indeed a unique one, filled with unexpected twists and turns. But before we delve into his island escapade, let's rewind a bit.

Alexander Selkirk, born in 1676 in Lower Largo, Scotland, was an adventurous spirit from a young age. He had a knack for finding trouble, even getting summoned by the town elders for "indecent conduct in church." Seeking freedom and a life less ordinary, Selkirk set sail into the stormy waters of the North Sea, not to return home for a remarkable eight years.

His misadventures didn't end there. Upon his return, Selkirk found himself in trouble again, this time for assaulting his own family. It seemed that Lower Largo wasn't the right fit for him, lacking opportunities for someone with experience in indecent conduct and domestic violence. Thankfully, fate had other plans for Selkirk.

He found his calling in privateering, a legalized form of piracy authorized by the British government. Selkirk's skills as a sailor and navigator earned him a position as the second in command aboard the English ship, Cinco Ports. The ship's mission was to harass Spanish and French vessels and settlements off the coast of South America during the War of the Spanish Succession.

Life at sea wasn't easy for Selkirk and his crewmates. The ship was infested with cockroaches and rats, and diseases like dysentery and scurvy plagued the sailors. In 1704, tensions escalated between Selkirk and the ship's new captain, Lieutenant Thomas Stradling. Their clash reached its peak when the ship anchored off the remote Juan Fernández Islands, situated in the middle of nowhere.

Selkirk, convinced that the Cinco Ports was in poor condition, boldly declared that he would rather stay on the island than spend another day on the ship. Little did he know that his bluff would be called. Stradling, seeing an opportunity to assert his authority, forced Selkirk to leave the ship. Left stranded on the deserted island, Selkirk faced an uncertain future.

Isolated and alone, Selkirk's survival instincts kicked in. He relied on lobsters as his primary food source, avoiding fish due to its unfavorable effect on his digestive system. Despite the harsh living conditions, Selkirk managed to build sturdy huts and even tame feral cats to ward off the island's rat infestation.

As time went on, Selkirk became one with the island, knowing its every nook and cranny. Ships occasionally passed by, but their crews, mostly Spaniards, sought to capture or kill him. Selkirk's ability to blend into the island's terrain foiled their attempts.

Finally, on February 2nd, Selkirk's prayers were answered when a ship belonging to an English privateer, Woodes Rogers, arrived to rescue him. After four long years and four months of isolation, Selkirk was once again reunited with civilization.

The incredible story of Alexander Selkirk not only captivated readers but also influenced literature. It served as the inspiration for Daniel Defoe's novel, "Robinson Crusoe," often regarded as the first English novel. While Defoe's work was fiction, it was heavily influenced by Selkirk's remarkable survival tale.

Alexander Selkirk's return to civilization marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life. Despite the initial difficulty in speaking, he quickly regained his ability to communicate and showcased his survival skills by helping his rescuers, who were suffering from malnourishment and scurvy. Selkirk's expertise in catching goats and nursing the crew back to health played a crucial role in their recovery and preparedness for their return to the sea.

After spending four extraordinary years with goats and sea lions, one might assume that Selkirk was eager to leave his maritime career behind. However, fate had other plans for him. Upon boarding Woodes Rogers' ship, the Duke, Selkirk was appointed as second mate and navigator, a testament to his skills and experience. Swashbuckling adventures followed, including the capture of a galleon laden with a vast treasure.

Selkirk's career flourished, and it took another two years before he finally set foot back in London, eight years older and considerably wealthier than when he first left. In today's currency, his earnings would amount to well over a hundred thousand pounds. Back in his homeland, Selkirk found himself a minor celebrity, enjoying a life of moderate wealth, free dinners, and endless pints. He embarked on a pub tour, captivating audiences with his incredible tale of survival.

However, Selkirk's adventurous spirit was far from extinguished. In his forties, he enlisted in the Royal Navy, a natural fit for someone who had always been a sailor at heart. This occupation consumed his time when Daniel Defoe published "The Life and Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe" in 1719.

The title illustration of Defoe's novel depicted a solitary figure standing alone on the shore of an island, clad in goatskins. For those familiar with Selkirk's story, the influence on Defoe's creation was abundantly clear. The parallels between Selkirk's real-life adventure and the fictional character of Robinson Crusoe were undeniable.

Tragically, just two years after the publication of Defoe's novel, Alexander Selkirk's life came to an end. While serving as an officer on a British naval vessel off the coast of Africa, he contracted yellow fever and passed away in December 1721. As a sailor, Selkirk was laid to rest in a simple burial at sea, which, in essence, meant he was thrown overboard. One can't help but think that a more significant farewell would have been fitting for a man who survived five solitary years on a desert island and inspired one of the most important works in English literature.

Alexander Selkirk's remarkable tale of survival and his influence on the creation of Robinson Crusoe continue to captivate audiences today. His story serves as a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the power of resilience in the face of adversity. Though Selkirk may have been buried at sea, his legacy lives on, forever etched in the annals of history and literature.