FAMOUS PEOPLE FROM SOUTHEAST ENGLAND
By Tim Lambert
Click on towns in blue to read their histories
ALTON Catherine McCormack 1972- Actress
ASHFORD
Frederick Forsyth 1938- Writer
Sir Malcolm Sargent 1895-1967 Composer
John Wallis 1616-1703 Mathematician
BASILDON, BERKSHIRE Jethro Tull 1674-1741 Invented seed drill (1701) Before seeds were sown by hand which was wasteful as many seeds did not germinate. Seed drill allowed seeds to be planted in the right place in a ploughed field. Also invented horse drawn hoe for removing weeds.
John Arlott 1914-1991 Broadcaster
Thomas Warton 1728-1790 Poet
BATTLE, SUSSEX Eliza Acton 1799-1859 Poet
BEKESBOURNE, KENT Stephen Hales 1677-1761 Physiologist
BRENCHLEY, KENT Siegfried Sassoon 1886-1967 Poet
BEXHILL
David Hare 1947- Playwright
Angus Wilson 1913-1991 Writer
BISHOPS WALTHAM HAMPSHIRE Amanda Holden 1971- Actress
Frank Bridge 1879-1941 Conductor
Ray Brooks 1939- Actor
David Garnett 1892-1981 Writer
Eric Gill 1882-1940 Sculptor and engraver
Sir Edward Marshall Hall 1858-1927 Lawyer
Max Miller 1894-1963 Comedian
Therese Lessore 1884-1945 Artist
Steve Ovett 1955- Athlete
Gilbert Ryle 1900-1976 Philosopher
Martin Ryle 1918-1984 Astronomer
BROADSTAIRS
Richard Bennett 1936- Composer
Lionel johnson 1867-1902 Poet
BROMLEY, KENT
Norman Cook 1963- Singer
Susan Dallion 1957- Singer
H G Wells 1866-1946 Science fiction writer
Antionette Sibley 1939- Ballerina
Frederick Twort 1877-1950 Bacteriologist
CAMBERLEY
Joan Robinson 1903-1983 Economist
Frederick Twort 1877-1950 Bacteriologist
CANTERBURY Christopher Marlowe 1564-93 Playwright
CHATHAM Richard Dadd 1819-1897 Artist
Thomas Bradwardine 1290-1349 Theologian
William Collins 1721-59 Poet
William Hayley 1745-1820 Poet
Edward Titchener 1867-1927 Psychologist
COBHAM, SURREY John Addison 1920-1998 Composer
COOMBE, SURREY John Galsworthy 1867-1933 Writer
CRANLEIGH Godfrey Hardy 1877-1947 Mathematician
CROYDON
Richard Briers 1934- Actor
Henry Havelock Ellis 1859-1939 Psychologist
Kate Moss 1974- Supermodel
CUCKFIELD Debra Beaumont 1967- Actress
DORKING
John Evelyn 1620-1706 Writer
Laurence Olivier 1907-1989 Actor
Thomas Malthus 1766-1834 Economist
Donald Lynden-Bell 1935- Astrophysicist
Joss Stone 1987- Singer
Angela Carter 1940-1992 Writer
Sir Frederick Hopkins 1861-1947 Biochemist
EAST COWES Thomas Arnold 1795-1842 Educational reformer
EASTLEIGH Malcolm Green 1936- Chemist
EMSWORTH Peter Danckwerts 1916-1984 Chemical Engineer
EPSOM
Petula Clark 1932- Singer
Spencer Gore 1878-1914 Artist
Sir Henry Chads 1819-1906 Naval Officer
Sir John Goss 1800-1880 Composer
William Cobbett 1763-1835
Baron Vasittart Diplomat 1881-1957
FELIXSTOWE Sir John Mills 1908- Actor
FOLKESTONE
William Harvey Doctor who discovered circulation of the blood
George Posford 1906-1976 Composer
FRESHWATER, ISLE OF WIGHT Robert Hooke 1635-1703 Scientist
GILLINGHAM
William Adams First Englishman to visit Japan
David Harvey 1935- Geographer
GODALMING Aldous Huxley 1894-1963 Writer
Richard Dawson 1932- Actor
Sarah Jane Mellon 1824-1909 Actor
Martin Snape 1852-1930 Artist
Cyril Tawney 1930- Singer
Arthur Upfield 1888-1964 Writer
George Abbot 1562-1633 Archbishop
Nicola Bryant 1962- Actress
Mildred Cable 1878-1952 Missionary
P G Wodehouse 1881-1975 Writer
GRAYSHOTT, HAMPSHIRE Colin Firth 1960- Actor
GRAVESEND
Sir Edwin Arnold 1832-1904 Poet
sir Derek Barton 1918-1998 Chemist
GREENWICH Keith Lucas 1879-1916 Neuorphysiologist
HAMPTON Robert Cedric Sherriff 1896-1975 Playwright
HASTINGS Jo Brand 1957- Comedian
HERNE BAY, KENT Kevin Ayers 1945- Musician
HEYSHOTT, SUSSEX Richard Cobden 1804-65 Pioneer of free trade
HORSHAM, SUSSEX
Robert Southwell 1561-1595 Poet
HOVE Alexandra Bastedo 1946- Actress
HUNGERFORD, BERKSHIRE Charles Portal 1893-1971 Air Force Marshall
LEATHERHEAD Sir John Duckworth 1748-1817 Admiral
Susan Howarth 1940- Writer
George Baxter 1804-67 Engraver and artist
Richard Challoner 1691-1781 Theologian
Gideon Mantell 1790-1852 Paleontologist
David Garnett 1892-1981 Writer
MAIDENHEAD Thomas Rickman 1776-1841 Architect
William Hazlitt 1778-1830 Writer
Francis Smythe 1900-49 Mountaineer
MILFORD-ON-SEA Frances Fisher 1952- Actress
Francis Baily 1774-1844 Astronomer
John Langley 1852-1925 Physiologist
Edward Titchmarsh 1899-1963 Mathematician
NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT Elizabeth Sewell 1815-1906 Writer
PEACEHAVEN Alison Fisher 168- Snooker player
PENSHURST, KENT Sir Philip Sidney 1554-1586 Soldier
PETERSFIELD HAMPSHIRE
Lady Alice Acland 1849-1935 Feminist
Arthur Brough 1905-1978 Actor
William Cowper 1666-1709 Surgeon
PETWORTH Wilfrid Blunt 1840-1922 Poet
PLUMSTEAD, SURREY Kate Bush 1958- Singer/songwriter
Walter Besant 1836-1909 Writer
Howard Brenton 1942- Playwright
Charles Dickens 1812-1870 Writer
Isambard Kingdom Brunel 1806-59 Engineer
Jonas Hanway 1712-1786 Inventor of umbrella
Olivia Manning 1911-1980 Writer
George Meredith 1828-1909 Writer
Peter Sellers 1925-1980 Comedian
RAMSGATE
Winifred Austen 1876-1964 Artist
Brenda Blethyn 1946- Actor
Alfred Whitehead 1861-1947 Mathematician
Ricky Gervais 1961- Comedian
Elizabeth Taylor 1912-1975 Writer
Kate Winslet 1975- Actress
REIGATE
Dame Margot Fonteyn 1919-1991 Ballet Dancer
Caroline Quentin 1961- Actress
RICHMOND
Arthur Cayley 1821-95 Mathematician
Ronald Colman 1891-1958 Actor
Celia Johnson 1908-1982 Actor
ROCHESTER
Enid Bagnold 1889-1981 Writer
Phylllis Bottome 1884-1963 Writer
Kelly Brook 1979- Actress
John Littlewood 1885-1977 Mathematician
Wilbert Awdry 1911-1997 Children's author
Lord Palmerston 1784-1865 Prime minister twice. Born in Broadlands House about 1 mile south of the town
Sir William Petty 1623-1697 Inventor
RYDE Albert Pollard 1869-1948 Historian
RYE
John Fletcher 1579-1625 Playwright
Issac Todhunter 1820-1884 Mathematician
SANDGATE, KENT
Hattie Jacques 1920-1980 Comedian
SEVENOAKS Jeffrey Amherst 1761-87 General
SHEERNESS
William Penney 1909-1991 Physicist
Henry Russell 1812-1900 Composer
Sir Edward Abraham 1913-1999 Biochemist
marcus Adams 1875-1959 Photographer
Wilfrid Butt 1922-2006 Endocrinologist
Charlie Dimmock 1966- Gardener
Benny Hill 1924-1992 Comedian
Allen Jones 1937- Artist
John Jellicoe 1859-1935 Admiral
Sir John Millais 1829-96 Artist
Issac Watts 1674-1748 Hymn writer
SLOUGH
John Herschel 1792-1871 Astronomer
Tracey Ullman 1959- Actress
STROOD Anne pratt 1806-1893 Botantist
ST LEONARDS, SUSSEX David Hare 1947- Playwright
SWANMORE, HAMPSHIRE Stephen Butler Leacock 1869-1944 Writer and Economist
TENTERDON, KENT William Caxton 1422-92 Introduced printing press into England
TONBRIDGE
Harry Andrews 1911-1989 Actor
Henry Fowler 1858-1933 Lexicographer
Cecil Powell 1903-1969 Physicist
Frank Woolley 1887-1978 Cricketer
WALMER
Robert Bridges 1844-1930 Poet
John Hassall 1868-1948 Artist
William Benham 1831-1910 Clergyman and writer
James Rogers 1823-1890 Economist
WEYBRIDGE
Jacqueline Bisset 1944- Actress
Richard Hughes 1900-1976 Writer
WIMBLEDON Allan Cunningham 1791-1839 Botanist
Richard Ford 1796-1858 Travel writer
John Lingard 1771-1851 Historian
constance Collier 1878-1955 Actor
Sir Ranulph Fiennes 1945- Explorer
Henry Hallam 1777-1859 Historian
WOKING
Peter Gabriel 1950- Musician
Delia Smith 1941- Cook
Paul Wller 1958- Singer
Alma Cogan 1932-1966 Singer
Nicolette Sheridan 1963- Actress