Plato and the Apology of Socrates

Of all writers of speculative philosophy, both ancient and modern, there is probably no one who has attained so eminent a position as Plato. In his early youth Plato applied himself to poetry and painting, both of which pursuits he relinquished to become the disciple and follower of Socrates. He was the devoted friend and pupil of Socrates, and during the imprisonment of his master he attended him constantly, and committed to writing his last discourses on the immortality of the soul...

The writings of Plato are numerous, and most of them are in the form of dialogues... Three of his works, viz.: "The Apologia," "The Crito" and "The Phædo," have reference to the trial, imprisonment and death of Socrates. "The Apologia" represents Socrates on trial for his life, undertaking his own defence, though unaccustomed to the language of the courts, the occasion being, as he says, the first time he has ever been before a court of justice, though seventy years of age.