Wallace, Sir William

Wallace, Sir William (about 1272-1305), outlaw, b. probably in Renfrewshire, Scotland.

Sir William Wallace was a leader of the Scots against King Edward I of England.

In 1297, he defeated the English at Stirling Bridge and afterwards made a raid over the border.

A year later, Edward invaded Scotland with 88,000 men and defeated Wallace at Falkirk. Afterwards, Wallace vanished. He may have gone to France to try to obtain help from the French king.

He reappeared in 1305 and was arrested and put to death after a trial in London. Wallace is remembered in the song by Robert Burns, Scots wha hae wi' Wallace bled.

See Nigel Tranter The Wallace