Monkey died in tree (8)
I believe the answer is:
tamarind
'tree' is the definition.
(tamarind tree is a kind of tree)
'monkey died in' is the wordplay.
'monkey' becomes 'tamarin' (tamarin is a kind of monkey).
'died in' becomes 'd' (abbreviation next to the year of someone's death. I am not sure about the 'in' bit.).
'tamarin'+'d'='TAMARIND'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tamarind that I've seen before include "exotic fruit" , "Seed pod pulp eaten fresh or cooked with rice and fish or preserved in curries and chutneys" , "Large tropical seedpod with tangy pulp -- mad train (anag)" , "evergreen" , "Tropical African tree" .)