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# [[Winston Churchill|Sir Winston Churchill]]
# [[Winston Churchill|Sir Winston Churchill]]
# [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]]
# [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]]
# [[Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales]]
# [[Diana, Princess of Wales]]
# [[Charles Darwin]]
# [[Charles Darwin]]
# [[William Shakespeare]]
# [[William Shakespeare]]
# [[Isaac Newton|Sir Isaac Newton]]
# [[Isaac Newton|Sir Isaac Newton]]
# [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth Tudor]] Queen of England
# [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]]
# [[John Lennon]]
# [[John Lennon]]
# [[Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson]]
# [[Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson]]
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# [[Margaret Thatcher]], Prime Minister (1979-1990). First woman to have held the office.
# [[Margaret Thatcher]], Prime Minister (1979-1990). First woman to have held the office.
# [[Michael Crawford]], TV, film and theatre actor (''[[Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em]]'' on television, and originated [[Erik (The Phantom of the Opera)|the title role]] in ''[[The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)|The Phantom of the Opera]]'' on the West End)
# [[Michael Crawford]], TV, film and theatre actor (''[[Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em]]'' on television, and originated [[Erik (The Phantom of the Opera)|the title role]] in ''[[The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)|The Phantom of the Opera]]'' on the West End)
# [[Victoria]], queen (1837-1901). Known as the [[Victorian era]]
# [[Queen Victoria]], queen (1837-1901). Known as the [[Victorian era]]
# [[Paul McCartney]], rock singer ([[The Beatles]]).
# [[Paul McCartney]], rock singer ([[The Beatles]]).
# [[Alexander Fleming]], physician and chemist. Discovered [[penicillin]]. Received the [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine]] in 1945.
# [[Alexander Fleming]], physician and chemist. Discovered [[penicillin]]. Received the [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine]] in 1945.
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# [[Michael Faraday]], physicist. Discovered [[electromagnetic induction]], [[diamagnetism]] and [[electrolysis]].
# [[Michael Faraday]], physicist. Discovered [[electromagnetic induction]], [[diamagnetism]] and [[electrolysis]].
# [[Owain Glyndŵr]], Welsh king.
# [[Owain Glyndŵr]], Welsh king.
# [[Elizabeth]], Queen of Great Britain & Northern Ireland (1952- ...).
# [[Elizabeth II]], queen (1952- ...).
# [[Stephen Hawking]], astrophysicist. Achieved groundbreaking work in the field of [[quantum gravity]] and [[theoretical cosmology]]. Author of ''[[A Brief History of Time]]''.
# [[Stephen Hawking]], astrophysicist. Achieved groundbreaking work in the field of [[quantum gravity]] and [[theoretical cosmology]]. Author of ''[[A Brief History of Time]]''.
# [[William Tyndale]], scholar. Translated the Bible into English.
# [[William Tyndale]], scholar. Translated the Bible into English.
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# [[William Wilberforce]], politician and activist. Led the anti-slavery movement.
# [[William Wilberforce]], politician and activist. Led the anti-slavery movement.
# [[David Bowie]], rock singer (''[[Space Oddity]]'', ''[[The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars|Ziggy Stardust]]'', ''[[Heroes (David Bowie song)|Heroes]]'', ''[[Let's Dance (David Bowie song)|Let's Dance]]'')
# [[David Bowie]], rock singer (''[[Space Oddity]]'', ''[[The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars|Ziggy Stardust]]'', ''[[Heroes (David Bowie song)|Heroes]]'', ''[[Let's Dance (David Bowie song)|Let's Dance]]'')
# [[Guy Fawkes]], conspirator. Tried but failed to blow up the English Parliament. The event is the origin of the annual [[Bonfire Night]].
# [[Guy Fawkes]], criminal. Tried but failed to blow up the English Parliament. The event is the origin of the annual [[Bonfire Night]].
# [[Leonard Cheshire]], military pilot and philanthropist.
# [[Leonard Cheshire]], military pilot and philanthropist.
# [[Eric Morecambe]], comedian and actor (''[[Morecambe and Wise]]'').
# [[Eric Morecambe]], comedian and actor (''[[Morecambe and Wise]]'').
# [[David Beckham]], association football player.
# [[David Beckham]], association football player.
# [[Thomas Paine]], philosopher (''[[The Age of Reason]]'').
# [[Thomas Paine]], philosopher (''[[The Age of Reason]]'').
# [[Boudica]], queen of the celtic [[Iceni]] people. Led resistance against the occupying Roman army.
# [[Boudica]], Celtic queen of [[Britannia]]. Lead resistance against the Roman army.
# [[Steve Redgrave]], rower. Won gold medals at five consecutive [[Olympic Games]] (1984 to 2000).
# [[Steve Redgrave]], rower. Won gold medals at five consecutive [[Olympic Games]] (1984 to 2000).
# [[Thomas More]], author and philosopher (''[[Utopia]]'').
# [[Thomas More]], author and philosopher (''[[Utopia]]'').
# [[William Blake]], poet and painter (''[[Songs of Innocence and Experience]]'', ''[[Jerusalem: The Emanation of the Giant Albion]]'', ''[[Milton: A Poem in Two Books]]'').
# [[William Blake]], poet and painter (''[[Songs of Innocence and Experience]]'', ''[[Jerusalem: The Emanation of the Giant Albion]]'', ''[[Milton: A Poem in Two Books]]'').
# [[John Harrison]], inventor of the [[marine chronometer]].
# [[John Harrison]], inventor of the [[marine chronometer]].
# [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]], king of England (1509-1547).
# [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]], king (1509-1547).
# [[Charles Dickens]], English novelist (''[[Oliver Twist]]'', ''[[A Christmas Carol]]'', ''[[Great Expectations]]'', ''[[David Copperfield]]'').
# [[Charles Dickens]], novelist (''[[Oliver Twist]]'', ''[[A Christmas Carol]]'', ''[[Great Expectations]]'', ''[[David Copperfield]]'').
# [[Frank Whittle]], engineer and inventor. Invented the [[turbojet engine]].
# [[Frank Whittle]], engineer and inventor. Invented the [[turbojet engine]].
# [[John Peel]], radio presenter (''[[Top Gear (radio show)|Top Gear]]'').
# [[John Peel]], radio presenter (''[[Top Gear (radio show)|Top Gear]]'').
# [[John Logie Baird]], Scottish engineer and inventor. Invented the [[television]].
# [[John Logie Baird]], engineer and inventor. Invented the [[television]].
# [[Aneurin Bevan]], Welsh politician. [[Secretary of State for Health|Minister of Health]] (1945-1951).
# [[Aneurin Bevan]], politician. [[Secretary of State for Health|Minister of Health]] (1945-1951).
# [[Boy George]], pop singer ([[Culture Club]]).
# [[Boy George]], pop singer ([[Culture Club]]).
# [[Douglas Bader]], military aviator.
# [[Douglas Bader]], military aviator.
# [[William Wallace]], Scottish patriot and Guardian of Scotland during the [[Wars of Scottish Independence]], tortured and killed on the orders of [[Edward I]] of England.
# [[William Wallace]], knight and resistance leader during the [[Wars of Scottish Independence]].
# [[Francis Drake]], explorer and admiral. Defeated the [[Spanish Armada]].
# [[Francis Drake]], explorer and admiral. Defeated the [[Spanish Armada]].
# [[John Wesley]], religious activist. Founder of [[Methodism]].
# [[John Wesley]], religious activist. Founder of [[Methodism]].
# [[King Arthur]], mythical celtic king.
# [[King Arthur]], mythical king.
# [[Florence Nightingale]], humanitarian activist and founder of modern [[nursing]]. Nursed wounded soldiers during the [[Crimean War]].
# [[Florence Nightingale]], humanitarian activist and founder of modern [[nursing]]. Nursed wounded soldiers during the [[Crimean War]].
# [[T. E. Lawrence]], better known as "Lawrence of Arabia", military.
# [[T. E. Lawrence]], better known as "Lawrence of Arabia", military.
# [[Robert Falcon Scott]], explorer. Failed to reach the South Pole before [[Roald Amundsen]] and died on the way back. Became a national hero to the British because of his perseverance.
# [[Robert Falcon Scott]], explorer. Failed to reach the South Pole before [[Roald Amundsen]] and died on the way back. Became a national hero to the British because of his perseverance.
# [[Enoch Powell]], racist politician.
# [[Enoch Powell]], politician.
# [[Cliff Richard|Sir Cliff Richard]], pop singer.
# [[Cliff Richard|Sir Cliff Richard]], pop singer.
# [[Alexander Graham Bell]], Scottish inventor. Invented the [[telephone]].
# [[Alexander Graham Bell]], inventor. Invented the [[telephone]].
# [[Freddie Mercury]], rock singer ([[Queen (band)|Queen]]).
# [[Freddie Mercury]], rock singer ([[Queen (band)|Queen]]).
# [[Julie Andrews]], film actress (''[[Mary Poppins]]'', ''[[The Sound of Music]]'').
# [[Julie Andrews]], film actress (''[[Mary Poppins]]'', ''[[The Sound of Music]]'').
# [[Edward Elgar]], composer (''[[Pomp and Circumstance Marches]]'').
# [[Edward Elgar]], composer (''[[Pomp and Circumstance Marches]]'').
# [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother]], queen-consort during WWII.
# [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother]], queen during WWII.
# [[George Harrison]], rock guitarist ([[The Beatles]]).
# [[George Harrison]], rock guitarist ([[The Beatles]]).
# [[David Attenborough|Sir David Attenborough]], biologist and TV documentary presenter.
# [[David Attenborough|Sir David Attenborough]], biologist and TV documentary presenter.
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# [[Henry V of England|Henry V]], king (1413-1422).
# [[Henry V of England|Henry V]], king (1413-1422).
# [[Aleister Crowley]], poet, novelist and occultist.
# [[Aleister Crowley]], poet, novelist and occultist.
# [[Robert the Bruce]], King of Scots (1306-1329). Defeated the English and liberated Scotland from their occupation.
# [[Robert the Bruce]], king of the Scots (1306-1329).
# [[Bob Geldof]], pop singer ([[The Boomtown Rats]] and humanitarian activist ([[Live Aid]], [[Live 8]]). Born in [[Dún Laoghaire]] in Ireland.
# [[Bob Geldof]], pop singer ([[The Boomtown Rats]] and humanitarian activist ([[Live Aid]], [[Live 8]]). Born in [[Dún Laoghaire]] and thus technically an Irishman.
# [[The Unknown Warrior]], soldier whose remains are buried at [[Westminster Abbey]].
# [[The Unknown Warrior]], soldier whose remains are buried at [[Westminster Abbey]].
# [[Robbie Williams]], pop singer ([[Take That]]).
# [[Robbie Williams]], pop singer ([[Take That]]).
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# [[Richard III of England|Richard III]], king (1483-1485).
# [[Richard III of England|Richard III]], king (1483-1485).
# [[J. K. Rowling]], novelist (''[[Harry Potter]]'').
# [[J. K. Rowling]], novelist (''[[Harry Potter]]'').
# [[James Watt]], Scottish inventor. Invented the [[steam engine]] which was fundamental to the [[Industrial Revolution]] which originated in Great Britain
# [[James Watt]], inventor. Invented the [[steam engine]] which was fundamental to the [[Industrial Revolution]] which originated in Great Britain
# [[Richard Branson|Sir Richard Branson]], businessman (''[[Virgin (company)|Virgin]]'').
# [[Richard Branson|Sir Richard Branson]], businessman (''[[Virgin (company)|Virgin]]'').
# [[Bono]], Irish rock singer ([[U2]]). Born in [[Dublin]], Ireland, his inclusion is based upon Ireland being considered one of the British Isles.
# [[Bono]], rock singer ([[U2]]). Born in [[Dublin]], Ireland, so technically considered an Irishman.
# [[John Lydon]] (Johnny Rotten), rock/punk singer ([[The Sex Pistols]], [[Public Image Ltd.]])
# [[John Lydon]] (Johnny Rotten), rock/punk singer ([[The Sex Pistols]], [[Public Image Ltd.]])
# [[Bernard Montgomery|Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein]] ('Monty'), general.
# [[Bernard Montgomery|Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein]] ('Monty'), general.
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# [[J. R. R. Tolkien]], novelist (''[[The Hobbit]]'', ''[[Lord of the Rings]]'').
# [[J. R. R. Tolkien]], novelist (''[[The Hobbit]]'', ''[[Lord of the Rings]]'').
# [[Walter Raleigh]], explorer. Explored North America.
# [[Walter Raleigh]], explorer. Explored North America.
# [[Edward I of England|Edward I]], king (1272- 1307). Tyrant.
# [[Edward I of England|Edward I]], king (1272- 1307).
# [[Barnes Wallis|Sir Barnes Wallis]], engineer and inventor. Invented the [[bouncing bomb]], [[earthquake bomb]] and [[geodetic airframe]].
# [[Barnes Wallis|Sir Barnes Wallis]], engineer and inventor. Invented the [[bouncing bomb]], [[earthquake bomb]] and [[geodetic airframe]].
# [[Richard Burton]], theatre and film actor.
# [[Richard Burton]], theatre and film actor.
# [[Tony Benn]], aristocrat who renounced his earldom to be able to sit in the House of Commons. Labour politician.
# [[Tony Benn]], politician.
# [[David Livingstone]], Church of Scotland missionary and explorer. Discovered the source of the [[Nile]].
# [[David Livingstone]], explorer. Discovered the origins of the [[Nile]].
# [[Tim Berners-Lee|Sir Tim Berners-Lee]], computer scientist. Inventor of the [[World Wide Web]].
# [[Tim Berners-Lee|Sir Tim Berners-Lee]], computer scientist. Inventor of the [[World Wide Web]].
# [[Marie Stopes]], eugenicist and campaigner for women's rights. Pioneer in the field of [[birth control]].
# [[Marie Stopes]], eugenicist and campaigner for women's rights. Pioneer in the field of [[birth control]].

Revision as of 19:08, 8 January 2017

100 Greatest Britons was broadcast in 2002 by the BBC. The programme was based on a television poll conducted to determine whom the United Kingdom public considered the greatest British people in history.[1][2] The series, Great Britons, included individual programmes featuring the individuals who featured in the top ten, with viewers having further opportunities to vote after each programme.[3] It concluded with a debate. All of the top 10 were dead by the year of broadcast.

The poll resulted in nominees including Guy Fawkes, who was executed for trying to blow up the Parliament of England; Oliver Cromwell who created a republican England; Richard III, suspected of murdering his nephews; James Connolly, an Irish nationalist and socialist who was executed by the Crown in 1916; and a surprisingly high ranking of 17th for actor and singer Michael Crawford (the second highest-ranked entertainer, after John Lennon). Diana, Princess of Wales was judged to be a greater historical British figure than William Shakespeare by BBC respondents to the survey.

One of the more controversial figures to be included on the list was occultist Aleister Crowley. His works have had a direct influence on the rise in popular occultism and some forms of neopaganism in the 20th century. In addition to the Britons, some notable non-British entrants were listed, including two Irish nationals, the philanthropic musicians Bono and Bob Geldof. The top 19 entries were people of English origin (though Sir Ernest Shackleton and Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, were both born into Anglo-Irish families when what is now the Republic of Ireland was part of the United Kingdom). The highest-placed Scottish entry was Alexander Fleming in 20th place, with the highest Welsh entry, Owain Glyndŵr, at number 23.[4] Sixty had lived in the twentieth century. The highest-ranked living person was Margaret Thatcher, placed 16th.[5] Ringo Starr is the only member of The Beatles not on the list. Isambard Kingdom Brunel occupied the top spot in the polls for some time thanks largely to "students from Brunel University who have been campaigning vigorously for the engineer for weeks."[6] However a late surge in the final week of voting put Churchill over the top.[6] Of the top 100, only 13 are women.

The opening and closing ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympics featured the two greatest Britons, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Winston Churchill as main characters, played by Kenneth Branagh and Timothy Spall, each of them reading a monologue from William Shakespeare's The Tempest.[7][8] In addition, the ceremony also contained a personal appearance by Tim Berners-Lee,[9] who was placed 99th on the list. There were no black Britons on the list, prompting a separate three-month survey to find the 100 greatest black Britons.[10][11]

Top 10 on the list

Because of the nature of the poll used to select and rank the Britons, the results do not claim to be an objective assessment. They are as follows:

Rank Personality Notability Nomination defended by Ref.
1 Sir Winston Churchill Prime Minister (1940–1945, 1951–1955). Historically ranked as one of the greatest British prime ministers. Kept the nation's spirit up during World War II, when the country had to defend itself against Hitler's attempts to invade. He was an important figure in post-war international and national politics as well. Received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953. Mo Mowlam, British politician.[12] [13]
2 Isambard Kingdom Brunel Designer of the Great Western Railway, Clifton Suspension Bridge, SS Great Britain and numerous significant ships, tunnels and bridges. A prominent figure during the Industrial Revolution which began in Britain, he revolutionised public transport and modern engineering. Jeremy Clarkson, TV presenter.[12] [13]
3 Diana, Princess of Wales First wife of Charles, Prince of Wales (marriage 1981–1996), and mother of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Prince Harry. Admired for her philanthropic deeds. Rosie Boycott, journalist and feminist activist.[12] [13]
4 Charles Darwin Biologist. Originator of the theory of evolution through natural selection and author of On the Origin of Species. Andrew Marr, journalist and TV presenter.[12] [13]
5 William Shakespeare Poet and playwright. Creator of Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and many more. Thought of by many as the greatest of all English writers. He is still an internationally admired and influential figure in the field of theatre. Fiona Shaw, actress and theatre and opera director.[12] [13]
6 Sir Isaac Newton Physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher. Originator of universal gravitation and laws of classical mechanics and laws of motion. His Principia is one of the most influential works in the history of science. Tristram Hunt, politician.[12] [13]
7 Queen Elizabeth I Queen (1558–1603). Brought a period of relative internal stability. She is associated with the defeat of the Spanish Armada. Her reign is known as the Elizabethan era. Michael Portillo, journalist and politician.[12] [13]
8 John Lennon Pop/rock singer and member of The Beatles. One of the most famous, successful, influential, covered and admired pop artists of all time. Hailed for his peace activism. Alan Davies, comedian and actor.[12] [13]
9 Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson Naval commander, famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. His victory during the Battle of Trafalgar was significant in preventing an invasion by Napoleon Bonaparte's army. Lucy Moore, historian.[12] [13]
10 Oliver Cromwell 1st Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland (1653–1658). Commander of the New Model Army during the English Civil War against King Charles I. Admired for moving the country to a more democratic stateform. Richard Holmes, military historian.[12] [13]

Full list

3

Although the BBC's original ranked list has been removed from their web server and what remains is only an alphabetical list of the Top 100,[14] several other sources[15][16][17] have preserved the original ranked list.

There was some question as to whether the Richard Burton listed at #96 is the actor or the explorer. A BBC press release makes it clear that they intended it to be the actor.

See also

References

  1. ^ 100 great British heroes—BBC News article, dated Wednesday, 21 August 2002 (contains the top 100, sorted alphabetically)
  2. ^ BBC reveals 100 great British heroes—BBC News article, dated Thursday, 22 August 2002
  3. ^ Ten greatest Britons chosen—BBC News article, dated Sunday, 20 October 2002
  4. ^ Rebel 'plot' to topple greatest Welshman The Independent. Retrieved 26 September 2011
  5. ^ Three lead race to be greatest Briton The Times. Retrieved 26 September 2011
  6. ^ a b "Churchill leads great Britons poll". Daily Mail. Retrieved 13 March 2013
  7. ^ "Brunel reads from Shakespeare's The Tempest". ITV News. Retrieved 24 August
  8. ^ "Timothy Spall plays Churchill at closing ceremony". BBC News. Retrieved 24 August
  9. ^ "Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee stars in Olympics opening ceremony" ZDNet. Retrieved 10 April 2013
  10. ^ "Nurse named greatest black Briton". BBC News. 10 February 2004. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  11. ^ Solambey F. "The 100 greatest Black Britons". Afrokanlife. Archived from the original on 30 March 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "BBC TWO reveals the ten greatest Britons of all time". BBC. Retrieved 11 October 2015
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Great Britons". BBC History. Retrieved 11 October 2015
  14. ^ BBC - Press Office - List of top 100 Britons, BBC Press Release, 8 August 2002
  15. ^ 100 Greatest Britons (BBC Poll, 2002) - Alchemipedia, posted 8 December 2009
  16. ^ "Great Britons 1-10". BBC via Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on 4 February 2004. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  17. ^ "Great Britons 11-100". BBC via Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on 4 December 2002. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
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