Great and Famous English People
'Great and Good Legacy, makes you Great'
Alfred The Great c. 849 – 899 (AElfred)
Alfred was the Anglo-Saxon King of Wessex. Famous for ‘burning the cakes’ when seeking refuge from the Vikings in Somerset. By 878 England was divided between the Danish Vikings and the Saxons who held the South West of England. Wessex. But after a long struggle in 896 the Danes submitted to the Saxons and Alfred effectively became the first English King. He set about reorganising the army known as the Fyrd and the Navy. Both the Royal Navy and the US Navy claim him as their founder. He married the Grand Daughter of the King of Mercia (central England,) and had as many as six children, one of whom was Princess Ethelfleda, a true English warrior Princess, who herself became a Queen. Her nephew and Alfreds grandson, King Athelstan of Wessex was another great Anglo-Saxon warrior who finally defeated the last Romano British at the bloody Battle of Brunanburgh giving all England to the Anglo-Saxons in 937. Thus England was born from these two great warriors.
Defender of England over many battles with the Vikings. King of the West Saxons, and King of all the Anglo-Saxons, Alfred is the only English monarch to be called ‘the Great.’
King Harold II 1022 – 14 October 1066
After his fathers death in 1053 Harold Godwinson became the Earl of Wessex and was a powerful nobleman in his own right. He became a respected and skilled warrior and leader. One description reads, ‘this Englishman was very tall and handsome, remarkable for his physical strength, his courage and eloquence, his ready jests and acts of valour.’
He had several children and one daughter Gytha, later became the wife of the Russian prince Vladimir Monomachus. Because of this Harolds blood runs in later generations of English Kings. The present Royal Family has such connections.
He died at the Battle of Hastings on Senlac Hill in Sussex (land of the South Saxons.) Trying to resist the invasion of French and Normans (or ‘Norsemen’ as they were of Viking origin.) Struck by an arrow in the eye and subsequently hacked down.
His personal bodyguard of Saxon Huscarles followed the tradition of the Saxon fighting ethos and died around him. The White Dragon standard of Wessex (West Saxons,) and his personal standard of the ‘Fighting Man’ lay with him.
His body was badly mutilated, and it is said that it was the tattoos on his chest that identified him. One was the word ‘England’
Now many regard him as a true English hero. Fighting and dying for England.
Elizabeth I 1533 – 1603
Daughter of Henry VIII. Queen Elizabeth I of England reign lasted 45 years. She was short tempered (quote, ‘’I will make you shorter by the head”) and indecisive. But led England to victory over the Spanish Armada. Her speech to the English troops at Tilbury near London was made famous by the iconic line:
"I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England, too."
Unmarried and without child. Virginia - the American state - is named after her, ‘the Virgin Queen.’ She proved to be one of the most popular monarchs in English history.
Sir Francis Drake 1543 - 1596
"There must be a beginning of any great matter, but the continuing unto the end until it be thoroughly finished yields the true glory."
Drake was an English military commander, explorer; state sponsored pirate, and global navigator born near Plymouth in Devon. He had no formal education, but was self confident and ambitious. In battle he could be quick, courageous and merciless.
A superb seaman, Drake played a vital part in defeating the Spanish Armada as it attempted to invade England in 1588. One of England’s greatest victories. England would be a vastly different country had it not been for this Spanish defeat.
He died an English national hero.
William Shakespeare 1564-1616 (‘The Bard’)
Quite simply England’s greatest playwrite and the world’s greatest dramatist. Writer of 37 major works. "The Taming of the Shrew" 1593, "The Comedy of Errors" 1594, "Love's Labour Lost" 1595, "Richard II" 1595, "Romeo and Juliet" 1595 to name a few.
Quotes are too many to list and some of the best on are the quotations page.
A recreation of his theatre ‘The Globe’ has been rebuilt on the South Bank of the Thames in London. His works are part of the reason why England has influenced the world.
Admiral Lord Nelson 1758 – 21 October 1805
"You must hate a Frenchman as you do the devil."
The most famous English Admiral, who is celebrated by Nelsons Column in Trafalgar Square named after the famous sea battle off the Southern Spanish coast where he defeated 33 French and Spanish ships with 27 Royal Navy ships. The ethos his displayed in battle is still taught in Naval academies across the world. He died of a wound from a French musket ball some 4 hours after victory was gained. It is said that the ships surgeon in fact eased him to death, keeping him alive long enough to see victory. His Flagship, HMS Victory, is still in service with the Royal Navy in dry dock in Portsmouth.
Before the battle he gave the now famous command:
"England expects that every man will do his duty."
‘The Iron Duke’ – The Duke of Wellington 1769 – 1852 (‘Old Hooky’)
Born in Ireland to aristocracy he famously said:
"Being born in a stable, does not make one a horse, so my fellow I’m an Englishman not Irish."
A true military commander, politician, and statesman. Affectionately known as ‘Hooky’ by his soldiers because of the shape of his nose. He returned the compliment once after an incident of looting by his troops, by calling them,‘the scum of the earth, enlisted only for drink.’ Yet an enemy would know that when they saw the Red coats of his troops they knew they were in for a hard fight. Often a single battalion would defeat a French division. He in turn commanded some very hard battlefield commanders such as Beresford, Picton, and others. Wellingtons army in the Napoleonic wars was one thing. Tough. He himself never lost his personal qualities of discipline, loyalty to England, and toughness.
Ensign to Field Marshall
Commander at the battles of Assaye, Porto, Salamanca, Vitoria, Toulouse, Talavera de Reina, the storming of Badajoz. Victor over Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815.
Member of Parliament
British Prime Minister twice.
22 January 1828 – 16 November 1830
17 November 1834 – 9 December 1834
He is buried in St Paul’s Cathedral. His honours and legacies are too numerous to list. The crowds at his funeral were vast.
William Cobbett 1763 – 1835 (Peter Porcupine)
"You never know what you can do till you try."
Self educated soldier, popular journalist, and politician. A powerful character both physically and in personality. He rose through the Army ranks in the Canadian Wars against the French from 1784 to 1791. He is listed because he is an example of an ordinary English person who has given legacy to England.
Well travelled and an admirer of the new Americas, he was first and foremost an Englishman. His life revolved around the promotion of good reform within his beloved country. To this end he became a Member of Parliament and in 1802 he began publishing Parliamentary Debates, the copyright of which he sold to Hansard his printer. It remains so today.
In reality conservative, but often at loggerheads with the establishment, he sold a journal called the Political Register primarily to the working class. It would sell 40,000 copies. A phenomenal amount for those days. A prolific writer he is famous for his books Rural Rides and Advice To Young Men. Should his multitude of books be read now, it can quickly be seen that this great Englishman has as much relevance today as then.
John Constable 1776 – 1837
John Constable and his painting of Dedham Vale – part of England he knew well.
"I would rather be a poor man in England than a rich man abroad."
The area around Dedham vale has become known as ‘Constable Country’. Member of the Royal Academy, one of Englands greatest painters.
For those who have travelled, seen much, but know little of England then here is a chance to start, by seeing his paintings. Why not find them? Then visit the places themselves…Dedham Vale, 1802. The Hay Wain, 1821. Salisbury Cathedral, 1825. The Cornfield, 1826. Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows, 1829. Brighton Beach with Colliers, 1824. Boat-building near Flatford Mill, 1815. Study of Cirrus Clouds, c.1822.
Winston Churchill 1874 – 1965
"Never give in, never give in, never; never; never; never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense"
Soldier, statesman, politician, author. Victor in the ‘Battle of Britain’ 9 July to 31 October 1940. Winner of the Nobel Literary prize.
He is most famous as Prime Minister during the Second World War. Born to a mixture of English aristocracy and US parentage, his relationship with the US President Roosevelt was vital. His first speech as Prime Minister and head of the War Cabinet is now famous, "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat".
It has the iconic line:
"We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender."
His State Funeral was on 30 January 1965, was a huge affair. It was also the birth date of his friend President Roosevelt. Roosevelt’s children led tributes in the US.
Like Alfred and Drake and Elizabeth I, he came at the right time. A true English leader of his time for his time.
Who will be next?
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