On May 19, 1888, Thomas Edward Lawrence also known as Lawrence of Arabia passed away at 46 years old. He was a British army officer, diplomat, and archaeologist who became renowned for his role as a British liaison officer to the Arab forces during the Ottoman Empire in 1916.
Lawrence earned the rank of British Army Colonel following the Arabian force's capture of Aqaba from the Turkish army in 1917. Later on in the Arab revolt, Lawrence helped capture Damascus and established a new government under Faisal, who became king of an Independent Arabia.
Lawrence served in the British forces from 1914 to 1918 during World War I. He returned to the United Kingdom shortly after the war, then in 1923, he joined the British RAF and again became actively involved in the Arabian peninsula.
On May 13, 1935, 2 months after leaving military service Lawrence was fatally injured in a motorcycle accident near his home. He died six days later from his injuries.
Lawrence earned prestigious British and French awards namely the British Companion of the Order of the Bath, Distinguished Service Order, and the French Knight of the Legion of Honour and Croix de Guerre.