Category: Brief histories of famous people across the world and ages

By Tim Lambert Alexander Fleming was the man who discovered penicillin. He was born in Lochfield, Ayrshire, Scotland on 6 August 1881. He went to Kilmarnock Academy. However, Alexander Fleming moved to London. He worked as a shipping clerk for a time then when a relative left him some money he went to study medicine… Continue reading A Biography of Alexander Fleming

By Tim Lambert George Vancouver was a great navigator of the 18th century. He was born in Fincham Street in the town of Kings Lynn in Norfolk, England on 22 June 1757. His father, John Vancouver was deputy collector of customs in Kings Lynn. As the son of a well-to-do man George probably attended Kings… Continue reading A Biography of George Vancouver

By Tim Lambert Grigori Rasputin was born in a village in Siberia. We don’t know the exact date but it was around 1869. At that time life in Siberia was hard and primitive. It was almost untouched by the Industrial Revolution that was sweeping western Europe. However, the Rasputin family were not poor peasants. They… Continue reading A Biography of Grigori Rasputin

By Tim Lambert His Early Life John Wesley was a famous preacher of the 18th century. He helped to found the Methodist movement. John Wesley was born on 28 June in the village of Epworth in Lincolnshire. His father was Samuel Wesley and his mother was Susanna. In 1714 John was sent to Charterhouse School.… Continue reading A Biography of John Wesley

By Tim Lambert Lady Jane Grey was Queen of England for just nine days. She was born in 1537 (the exact date is not known). Her father, Henry, was the Marquess of Dorset. Her mother, Frances Brandon, was the daughter of Henry VIII’s sister Mary. So Lady Jane was Henry VIII’s granddaughter. At first, she… Continue reading A Biography of Lady Jane Grey

By Tim Lambert Margery Kempe was an English mystic of the Middle Ages. She is famous for her autobiography. Margery was born in Kings Lynn in 1373. Her father was a wealthy merchant. At that time Kings Lynn was a large and important town and port. When she grew up Margery married a merchant named… Continue reading A Biography of Margery Kempe

By Tim Lambert Pierre Curie was a great scientist of the late 19th century. He was born on 15 May 1859. His father was a doctor. As a child, Pierre was home-schooled. He then attended the Faculty of Sciences at the Sorbonne and he gained a degree in physics in 1878. Pierre became a laboratory… Continue reading A Biography of Pierre Curie

By Tim Lambert His Early Life William the Conqueror was born about 1028. He was the son of Robert I Duke of Normandy. His father died in 1035. At first, William was too young to rule but as he grew older he took control of Normandy. In 1053 he married a woman named Matilda of… Continue reading A Biography of William the Conqueror

By Tim Lambert His Early Life Abraham Lincoln was born on 12 February 1809 on a farm near Hodgenville, Kentucky. His parents were Thomas and Nancy Lincoln. They had 3 children, Sarah, Abraham, and Thomas. However, Thomas died in infancy. When Abraham was 7 his father moved to southwestern Indiana. However, his mother died in… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Abraham Lincoln

By Tim Lambert His Early Life Adam Smith was a great philosopher and economist of the 18th century. He was one of the leading figures of the Scottish Enlightenment. Adam Smith is sometimes called the father of economics. Adam Smith was born in 1723 at Kirkcaldy in Scotland. (His exact date of birth is not… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Adam Smith