The Real Robinson Crusoe: True Castaways Behind the Novel

Who Was the Real Robinson Crusoe?

The 1719 novel Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe traces the tumultuous voyages and ultimate survival of a man with an unshakable lust for the sea. Since its publication, the story has sparked ongoing debate about who may have inspired the book’s famous castaway.

So, who was the real Robinson Crusoe?

Robinson Crusoe: The Fictional Castaway

In the novel, Crusoe defies his parents’ wishes that he study law and instead follows his passion for sailing. In August 1651, he sets sail for London from Kingston upon Hull.

A severe storm wrecks his ship, but Crusoe remains undeterred. On a second voyage, pirates attack and capture him. He eventually escapes two years later, accompanied by a boy named Xury, and the pair are rescued by the captain of a Portuguese ship bound for Brazil.

Years later, Crusoe suffers yet another shipwreck and is marooned on a remote island.

The novel details:

his resourcefulness and survival skills
threats from hostile visitors
his friendship with an escaped prisoner he names Friday
and his eventual religious awakening

Many believe Defoe based this tale on real-life castaways, particularly a Scottish sailor named Alexander Selkirk.

Alexander Selkirk: A Leading Real Robinson Crusoe Candidate

Alexander Selkirk was an unruly sailor living during the bitter maritime conflict between England and Spain.

In 1704, Selkirk served as sailing master aboard a ship he believed was no longer seaworthy. Refusing to entrust his life to a leaky vessel, he requested to remain behind on a remote island in the Juan Fernández archipelago.

The captain granted him only the bare essentials and abandoned him there.

Selkirk survived alone for four years, feeding and clothing himself in ways that closely resemble Crusoe’s fictional experience.

However, Selkirk was not the only possible inspiration.

Henry Pitman: Another Real Robinson Crusoe Inspiration

Another serious contender is Henry Pitman, surgeon to the Duke of Monmouth.

Pitman escaped after being stranded on a Caribbean desert island following a shipwreck. Upon returning to England, he wrote a book describing his survival techniques.

Notably, his work was published by J. Taylor, whose son would later publish Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe.

Scholars note that Pitman lived above the publishing house and may have met Defoe, possibly sharing his experiences firsthand.

William the Moskito: The Moskito Indian Castaway

Another fascinating possibility is a Moskito Indian named William the Moskito.

William was left on the Isle of Juan Fernández in 1681 when the buccaneers he accompanied departed in a hurry, leaving him with only the clothes he wore and a shotgun.

When Captain Cook passed the island in 1864, he sent men ashore to search for William.

They found him dressed only in goatskins.

William had:

fashioned fishing line from seal skins
repurposed his shotgun into harpoons, hooks, and lances
survived through remarkable ingenuity

His story was recorded in the journals of William Dampier, published in 1697 and 1699, sources Defoe would undoubtedly have seen.

Robert Knox: Captivity and Survival at Sea

Lastly, Robert Knox, a captain for the East India Company, was en route to Persia in 1658 when his ship was damaged in a storm.

Forced into Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka) for repairs, Knox and his crew were captured and held prisoner for 19 years.

Captain Knox died within a year, but his son, Robert Knox Jr., eventually escaped to a Dutch-controlled island and returned home to England.

His experiences were later published in a widely read book, adding yet another real-world survival story that may have influenced Defoe.

So, Who Was the Real Robinson Crusoe?

Perhaps each of these men played a part in inspiring Daniel Defoe’s unforgettable castaway.

Robinson Crusoe has since become one of the most widely published novels in history and has inspired countless books, films, television series, and radio programmes.

The mystery of the real Robinson Crusoe remains part of its enduring fascination.

HMS Bounty and Mutiny

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The Real Robinson Crusoe