Famous People Born in South East England

By Tim Lambert

ALDERSHOT Ian McEwan 1948- Writer

ALTON Catherine McCormack 1972- Actress

ARUNDEL Judy Geeson 1948- Actor

ASHFORD

Patsy Byrne 1933-2014 Actor

Frederick Forsyth 1938- Writer

Sir Malcolm Sargent 1895-1967 Composer

John Wallis 1616-1703 Mathematician

BASILDON, BERKSHIRE Jethro Tull 1674-1741 Invented the seed drill in 1701

BASINGSTOKE

John Arlott 1914-1991 Broadcaster

Thomas Warton 1728-1790 Poet

BATTLE, SUSSEX Eliza Acton 1799-1859 Poet

BEKESBOURNE, KENT Stephen Hales 1677-1761 Physiologist

BEXHILL

David Hare 1947- Playwright

Angus Wilson 1913-1991 Writer

BISHOPS WALTHAM Amanda Holden 1971- Actress

BRENCHLEY, KENT Siegfried Sassoon 1886-1967 Poet

BRIGHTON

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 1936-2012 Composer

Lionel Johnson 1867-1902 Poet

BROMLEY, KENT

Norman Cook 1963- Singer

Susan Dallion 1957- Singer

H G Wells 1866-1946 Science fiction writer

Antoinette Sibley 1939- Ballerina

CAMBERLEY

Joan Robinson 1903-1983 Economist

Frederick Twort 1877-1950 Bacteriologist

CANTERBURY Christopher Marlowe 1564-93 Playwright

CHATHAM Richard Dadd 1819-1897 Artist

CHICHESTER

Thomas Bradwardine 1290-1349 Theologian

William Collins 1721-1759 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 1934-2013 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

DOVER

Donald Lynden-Bell 1935-2018 Astrophysicist

Joss Stone 1987- Singer

EASTBOURNE

Angela Carter 1940-1992 Writer

Sir Frederick Hopkins 1861-1947 Biochemist

EAST COWES Thomas Arnold 1795-1842 Educational reformer

EAST GRINSTEAD Sarah Kennedy 1950- Broadcaster

EASTLEIGH Malcolm Green 1936- Chemist

EMSWORTH

Peter Danckwerts 1916-1984 Chemical Engineer

Nicholas Lyndhurst 1960- Actor

EPSOM

Petula Clark 1932- Singer

Spencer Gore 1878-1914 Artist

FAREHAM

Sir Henry Chads 1819-1906 Naval Officer

Sir John Goss 1800-1880 Composer

FARNHAM

William Cobbett 1763-1835

Baron Vansittart Diplomat 1881-1957

FELIXSTOWE Sir John Mills 1908-2005 Actor

FOLKESTONE

William Harvey 1578-1657 The 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

GOSPORT

Richard Dawson 1932-2012 Actor

Sarah Jane Mellon 1824-1909 Actor

Martin Snape 1852-1930 Artist

Cyril Tawney 1930-2005 Singer

Arthur Upfield 1888-1964 Writer

GUILDFORD

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 Neurophysiologist

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 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

LEWES

George Baxter 1804-1867 Engraver and artist

Richard Challoner 1691-1781 Theologian

Gideon Mantell 1790-1852 Paleontologist

LYMINGTON

David Garnett 1892-1981 Writer

MAIDENHEAD Thomas Rickman 1776-1841 Architect

MAIDSTONE

William Hazlitt 1778-1830 Writer

Francis Smythe 1900-1949 Mountaineer

MILFORD-ON-SEA Frances Fisher 1952- Actress

NEWBURY

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 1968- Snooker player

PENSHURST, KENT Sir Philip Sidney 1554-1586 Soldier

PETERSFIELD

Arthur Brough 1905-1978 Actor

William Cowper 1666-1709 Surgeon

PETWORTH Wilfrid Blunt 1840-1922 Poet

PLUMSTEAD, SURREY Kate Bush 1958- Singer/songwriter

PORTSMOUTH

Walter Besant 1836-1909 Writer

Howard Brenton 1942- Playwright

Charles Dickens 1812-1870 Writer

Isambard Kingdom Brunel 1806-1859 Engineer

Jonas Hanway 1712-1786 Popularised the umbrella

Olivia Manning 1911-1980 Writer

George Meredith 1828-1909 Writer

Peter Sellers 1925-1980 Comedian

Portsmouth

RAMSGATE

Winifred Austen 1876-1964 Artist

Brenda Blethyn 1946- Actor

Alfred Whitehead 1861-1947 Mathematician

READING

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 1821-1995 Mathematician

Ronald Colman 1891-1958 Actor

Celia Johnson 1908-1982 Actor

ROCHESTER

Enid Bagnold 1889-1981 Writer

Phyllis Bottome 1884-1963 Writer

Kelly Brook 1979- Actress

John Littlewood 1885-1977 Mathematician

ROMSEY

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 1717-1797 General

SHEERNESS

William Penney 1909-1991 Physicist

Henry Russell 1812-1900 Composer

SOUTHAMPTON

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 1829-1896 Artist

Issac Watts 1674-1748 Hymn writer

SLOUGH

John Herschel 1792-1871 Astronomer

Tracey Ullman 1959- Actress

STEVENTON Jane Austen 1775-1817 Writer

STROOD Anne pratt 1806-1893 Botanist

ST LEONARDS, SUSSEX David Hare 1947- Playwright

SWANMORE, HAMPSHIRE Stephen Butler Leacock 1869-1944 Writer and Economist

TENTERDEN, KENT

William Caxton 1422-1492 Introduced printing press into England

David Frost 1939-2013 Journalist

TONBRIDGE

Harry Andrews 1911-1989 Actor

Henry Fowler 1858-1933 Lexicographer

Cecil Powell 1903-1969 Physicist

Frank Woolley 1887-1978 Cricketer

TUNBRIDGE WELLS Zoe Fairbairns 1948- Writer

WALMER

Robert Bridges 1844-1930 Poet

John Hassall 1868-1948 Artist

WEST MEON, HAMPSHIRE

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

WINCHESTER

Richard Ford 1796-1858 Travel writer

John Lingard 1771-1851 Historian

WINDSOR

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 Weller 1958- Singer

WORTHING

Alma Cogan 1932-1966 Singer

Nicollette Sheridan 1963- Actress

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