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 Brief Biography of Alexander Fleming

By Tim Lambert Alexander Graham Bell was the man who invented the telephone. He was born in Edinburgh on 3 March 1847. Bell’s father taught elocution and Alexander was expected to follow. He was educated at Edinburgh High School, Edinburgh University, and the University of London. Afterward, he taught elocution and music. Then in 1870,… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Alexander Graham Bell

By Tim Lambert Anne Askew was a Protestant martyr of the 16th century. In 1534 Henry VIII made himself head of the Church in England. However, King Henry kept the old Catholic doctrines mostly intact. He had little sympathy for Protestant beliefs. So during his reign, Protestants were persecuted. Anne Askew was born in 1521… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Anne Askew

By Tim Lambert We are not sure exactly when Anne Boleyn was born, but it was probably around 1501. She was the daughter of Thomas Boleyn and his wife Elizabeth. She had a brother George and a sister Mary. Anne grew up in Hever Castle in Kent but in 1513 she was sent to the… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Anne Boleyn

By Tim Lambert Helen Beatrix Potter was a famous author of the early 20th century. Beatrix was born in South Kensington, London on 28 July 1866. Her father, Rupert Potter was a lawyer. Since her mother was also called Helen she was called by her middle name, Beatrix. She had one brother who was 6… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Beatrix Potter

By Tim Lambert His Early Life Benjamin Franklin was a writer and diplomat. He was also an inventor. Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts on 17 January 1706. His father Josiah Franklin was a soap maker. Benjamin went to school for only a very short time. When he was 10 he started work in his… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Benjamin Franklin

By Tim Lambert The early life of Scott Robert Falcon Scott was a great Antarctic explorer. He is sometimes called Scott of the Antarctic. However, he died tragically in 1912. Robert Scott was born on 6 June 1868 in Devon. He was one of 6 children. His father was a brewer and the family was… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Captain Scott

By Tim Lambert Caroline Herschel was a famous woman astronomer of the 18th century. Caroline was born on 16 March 1750 in Hanover, Germany. She was one of 8 children. Her father Isaac Herschel was a musician. Her mother was called Anna. Caroline’s mother did not want her daughters to be educated but fortunately, her… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Caroline Herschel

By Tim Lambert Catherine of Aragon was born on 16 December 1485. She was the daughter of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile. Like most upper-class girls at that time, Catherine was highly educated. As an adult, she was very erudite. Because of her learning, she was admired by scholars like Erasmus and Juan… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Catherine of Aragon

By Tim Lambert Her Early Life Catherine Parr is famous for being the sixth wife of Henry VIII. Catherine was born in 1512 (the exact date is not known). Her father was Sir Thomas Parr and her mother was called Maud. Her father died in 1517. As was normal for an upper-class girl in the… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Catherine Parr