Percy Fawcett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Percy Harrison Fawcett
DSO
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Fawcett in 1911
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| Born |
Percy Harrison Fawcett
18 August 1867 |
| Disappeared | 29 May 1925 (aged 57) Mato Grosso, Brazil |
| Occupation | Artillery officer, archaeologist, geologist, explorer |
| Spouse(s) |
Nina Agnes Paterson
(m. 1901) |
| Children | 3 |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
British Army |
| Years of service | 1886–1910 c.1914–1919 |
| Rank | Lieutenant-Colonel |
| Unit | Royal Artillery |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Order 3 × Mentioned in despatches |
Percy Harrison Fawcett (born August 18, 1867) was a British geographer, army officer, and explorer. He was also a mapmaker and archaeologist. Fawcett became famous for his expeditions to South America. He disappeared in 1925 during a trip to find an ancient lost city in the jungles of Brazil. His eldest son, Jack, and Jack's friend, Raleigh Rimell, were with him.
Contents
Percy Fawcett's Life and Adventures
Early Years and Military Career
Percy Fawcett was born on August 18, 1867, in Torquay, Devon, England. His father was a member of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS). This group helps with geography and exploration.
Fawcett went to the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He became a lieutenant in the Royal Artillery in 1886. In 1901, he married Nina Agnes Paterson. They had two sons, Jack and Brian, and a daughter, Joan. Fawcett served in places like Hong Kong and Malta. He became a captain in 1897 and a major in 1905.
Fawcett joined the RGS in 1901 to learn about surveying and mapmaking. He also worked for the British Secret Service in North Africa. He became friends with famous authors like H. Rider Haggard and Arthur Conan Doyle. Doyle even used Fawcett's stories from the Amazon to write his book The Lost World.
First Expeditions to South America
Fawcett's first trip to South America was in 1906. He was 39 years old. The Royal Geographical Society asked him to map a jungle area between Brazil and Bolivia. He arrived in La Paz, Bolivia, in June.
During his 1907 expedition, Fawcett claimed to have seen a very long giant anaconda. He also reported seeing other mysterious animals. These included a small dog-like creature and a giant spider.
Fawcett made seven expeditions between 1906 and 1924. He usually got along well with the local people. He gave them gifts and was patient and polite. In 1908, he found the source of the Rio Verde in Brazil. In 1910, he explored the Heath River on the border of Peru and Bolivia.
The Search for the Lost City of Z
After a trip in 1913, Fawcett started to believe in a "lost city." He called it "Z." He thought this ancient city was hidden in the Mato Grosso region of Brazil. He believed a complex civilization once lived in the Amazon. He thought some of their ruins might still exist.
Fawcett found an old document called Manuscript 512. It was written in 1753 by a Portuguese explorer. This document described the ruins of an ancient city with arches, a statue, and a temple. This city became another place Fawcett wanted to find.
World War I Service
When World War I began, Fawcett returned to Britain. He served in the army as a reserve officer. He commanded an artillery brigade in Flanders. He was almost 50 years old at the time. He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in 1918. He also received several awards for his service.
After the war, Fawcett went back to Brazil. He continued to study wildlife and archaeology. In 1920, he tried to find "Z" by himself. But he got a fever and had to stop.
Fawcett's Final Expedition
In 1924, Fawcett started his last expedition. A group of financiers called 'the Glove' funded it. He went back to Brazil with his eldest son, Jack, and Jack's friend, Raleigh Rimell. Their goal was to find "Z." Fawcett left instructions that if they did not return, no one should send a rescue team. He believed the jungle was too dangerous.
Fawcett was an experienced traveler. He brought supplies like canned food, powdered milk, guns, and navigation tools. He chose only two companions to travel light and avoid drawing attention from native tribes.
On April 20, 1925, they left Cuiabá. They had two Brazilian workers, horses, mules, and dogs with them. The last message from the expedition was on May 29, 1925. Fawcett wrote a letter to his wife. A native runner delivered it. He said he was ready to go into unexplored territory with only Jack and Raleigh. They were crossing the Upper Xingu in southeastern Brazil. The letter was written from a place called Dead Horse Camp. It was hopeful.
What Happened to Fawcett?
In January 1927, the Royal Geographical Society said the men were lost. Many people volunteered to search for them. Several expeditions tried to find Fawcett, but they failed. At least one searcher died trying.
Many thought local Indians might have killed them. Several tribes lived nearby, like the Kalapalos and the Xavantes. Some Kalapalo chiefs later shared stories. One chief, Comatzi, said the unwelcome strangers were killed. However, bones he provided were not Fawcett's. Another chief, Izarari, claimed he killed Fawcett and his son. He said Fawcett attacked them when they refused to give guides.
The Kalapalo people have a story that three explorers went east. After five days, their campfires stopped. The Kalapalo believe a violent tribe likely killed them. However, Jack and Raleigh were ill when last seen. It is possible they died from natural causes in the jungle.
In 1927, a nameplate belonging to Fawcett was found with an Indian tribe. In 1933, a theodolite compass was found. But the nameplate was from an earlier trip. Fawcett had likely given it as a gift. The compass was left behind before his final journey.
Dead Horse Camp: The Last Known Spot
Dead Horse Camp was a main camp on Fawcett's last journey. It was his last known location. From this camp, Fawcett wrote to his wife. He described the difficulties they faced. He also shared his coordinates and his plans. He ended his message saying, "You need have no fear of any failure..."
There is a question about the coordinates Fawcett gave for Dead Horse Camp. In his letter, he wrote: "Here we are at Dead Horse Camp, latitude 11 degrees 43' South and longitude 54 degrees 35' West." But in another report, he gave different coordinates. This might have been a mistake. Or he might have hidden the true location. He wanted to stop others from using his notes. He also did not want rescue attempts because of the danger.
Fawcett's Books
- Fawcett, Percy and Brian Fawcett (1953), Exploration Fawcett, Phoenix Press (2001 reprint), ISBN: 1-84212-468-4
- Fawcett, Percy and Brian Fawcett (1953), Lost Trails, Lost Cities, Funk & Wagnalls ASIN B0007DNCV4
- Fawcett, Brian (1958), Ruins in the Sky, Hutchinson of London
See also
In Spanish: Percy Fawcett para niños
- List of people who disappeared mysteriously: pre-1970
