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

By Tim Lambert Christine de Pizan was a great woman writer of the Middle Ages. Her father Tommaso was a famous academic and she was born in Italy in about 1363. When she was an infant Christine and her family moved to France, where her father was employed by the French king. In 1379 Christine… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Christine de Pizan

By Tim Lambert The early life of Christopher Marlowe Christopher Marlowe was a great Elizabethan playwright. He was baptised in Canterbury, Kent on 26 February 1564. The exact date of his birth is not certain but he was born the same year as William Shakespeare during the reign of Elizabeth I. His father John Marlowe… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Christopher Marlowe

By Tim Lambert Christopher Wren was one of the greatest architects of the 17th century. He is, of course, famous for St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Wren was born on 20 October 1632 in East Knoyle, Wiltshire, England. His father was a clergyman. Christopher was educated at Westminster School and in 1650 he went to… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Christopher Wren

By Tim Lambert Edmund Halley was a great astronomer of the late 17th century and early 18th century. Edmund was born in London on 8 November 1656. His father was a wealthy soap-maker. Edmund went to St Paul’s School. In 1673 he went to Oxford University. He left there in 1676 and sailed to the… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Edmund Halley

By Tim Lambert His Early Life Edward Jenner was an English doctor famous for his role in defeating smallpox. (In the 18th century smallpox was a terrible disease that killed many people. Even if the patient survived they were often scarred.) Jenner was born on 17 May 1749 in Berkeley in Gloucestershire, England. He was… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Edward Jenner

By Tim Lambert Elizabeth Tudor was born on 7 September 1533 in Greenwich Palace. Her father was Henry VIII and her mother was Anne Boleyn. Her unfortunate mother was beheaded on 19 May 1536 when Elizabeth was still an infant. Her father died in 1547 and he was succeeded by his son Edward. He in… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Elizabeth I

By Tim Lambert Emily Bronte was a great writer of the early 19th century. Emily was born on 30 July 1818 in Market Street in Thornton bear the rapidly growing town of Bradford in Yorkshire. Her father Patrick Bronte was a clergyman. Her mother was Maria Bronte. The couple had 6 children. Emily was their… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Emily Bronte

By Tim Lambert Enid Blyton was a famous writer of children’s books. Enid was born on 11 August 1897 in East Dulwich, London. Her father, Thomas Blyton was a salesman. Her mother was called Theresa. Enid had two younger brothers. Unfortunately in 1910, her father left the family for another woman. From 1907 Enid went… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Enid Blyton

By Tim Lambert Ernest Shackleton was a great polar explorer. Ernest was born on 15 February 1874 in County Kildare, Ireland. His father, Henry was a farmer. His mother was called Henrietta. Ernest was the second of ten children. Ernest’s father gave up farming and trained to be a doctor. He moved with his family… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Ernest Shackleton

By Tim Lambert Her Early Life Florence Nightingale was born in the city of Florence, Italy on 12 May 1820. She was the second daughter of wealthy parents (her elder sister was called Parthenope). When she was young Florence was very interested in mathematics. She was also a devout Christian and when she was 17… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Florence Nightingale