Wallace

Wallace, Sir William (c. 1274-1305), the national hero of Scotland, was the younger son of Sir Malcolm Wallace of Elderslie in Renfrewshire. After several successes, including an attack on Lanark, in which the governor was slain, he was joined by a party among the Scottish nobles, but they soon afterwards acknowledged Edward as sovereign by the Treaty of Irvine. Still supported by Sir Andrew Moray, he attacked the English forces under the Earl of Surrey, and gained a complete victory, which he followed up by a raid into England. On his return he was appointed Governor of the Kingdom, but his attempts at reorganization were thwarted by the jealousy of the barons. Meantime Edward had returned from Flanders and hurried to Scotland, where he defeated Wallace at Falkirk (July 22, 1298). Wallace was betrayed to the English, impeached of treason, and hanged, disemboweled, and quartered.