1. William Wallace a Mysterious Man
Earliest known picture from around 1640 by Scottish artist George Jameson

2. Where was Wallace born? Most sources say..
Elderslie
But some argue it was Ellerslie in Ayrshire

3. Wallace’s Background Second son of Sir Malcolm Wallace
Sir Malcolm Wallace was a knight and owned a certain amount of land
The second son was expected to follow the education of the church - the eldest son inherited the lands and title
Spent time living with an uncle who was a priest
Well educated by the church

4. What did Wallace look like?
Was he 7 feet tall?

5. What the Chroniclers said...
Walter Bower 1440
Wallace had the body of a giant, cheerful in appearance with agreeable features, broad-shouldered and big-boned. A most spirited fighting man.
John of Fordun 14th century
In 1297, William Wallace murdered the English sheriff of Lanark. From that time all those people who hated the English flocked to him and he became their leader. He was wondrously brave and bold.

6. What the Chroniclers said...
Walter of Guisborough 14th century
There was a public robber called William Wallace, who had been outlawed many times because he would not accept Edward as his king. Because he was a wandering outlaw, he attracted all the other bandits to himself and made himself almost their prince.
Lanercost Chronicle 13th and 14th centuries
Not daring to disobey King Edward openly, they encouraged a certain, blood man, William Wallace, who had formerly been a chief of robbers in Scotland, to revolt against King Edward and to gather the people in his support.

7. What do modern Historians say....
Geoffrey Barrow notes in Robert Bruce 1988
We know less about Wallace than we know about almost any of the great national figures in our history
Andrew Fisher writes in William Wallace 1986
Wallace is at best a shadowy figure and likely to remain so.

8. Therefore very little is known about Wallace’s early life
To find out some information try using this web site