Historical figures in London
The atlas holds 101 people and 455 moments here, from 1374 to 2022. The most recorded lives are Charles Dickens, John Milton and Elizabeth II. Among them Writers, Political Leaders and Scientists, across the Space Age and the Cold War.
Notable people
Charles Dickens
from 1815 to 1870
18 moments here
English novelist, journalist, editor, social reformer, actor and celebrated public reader. This chronology traces documented residences, workplaces,…
John Milton
from 1608 to 1674
17 moments here
English poet, polemicist, and civil servant. This chronology follows documented residences, education, continental travel, marriages, public service,…
Elizabeth II
from 1926 to 2022
15 moments here
Elizabeth II was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death.…
Freddie Mercury
from 1964 to 1991
14 moments here
Freddie Mercury (Farrokh Bulsara) was a British singer, songwriter, pianist, and lead vocalist of Queen.…
Oscar Wilde
from 1881 to 1895
13 moments here
Irish author, poet, playwright, critic, and leading figure in late nineteenth-century aestheticism.…
George Orwell
from 1927 to 1950
13 moments here
George Orwell was the pen name of Eric Arthur Blair, an English novelist, essayist, journalist, critic, and democratic socialist.…
Daniel Defoe
from 1660 to 1731
12 moments here
English merchant, political writer, journalist, intelligence agent, and novelist. This chronology records documented physical presences from his…
George Michael
from 1963 to 2012
12 moments here
English singer-songwriter and record producer, born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou in East Finchley, England.…
William Shakespeare
from 1592 to 1614
11 moments here
English playwright, poet, actor, and theatrical shareholder. Surviving records place Shakespeare principally in Stratford-upon-Avon and London, with…
Charlie Chaplin
from 1889 to 1975
11 moments here
English actor, comedian, director, writer, producer and composer whose screen persona, the Tramp, became an international icon.…
Margaret Thatcher
from 1959 to 2013
11 moments here
British stateswoman Margaret Hilda Thatcher (née Roberts) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990, the first woman to hold the…
Diana, Princess of Wales
from 1967 to 1997
11 moments here
Diana Frances Spencer (1961–1997) was Princess of Wales from 1981 until her divorce in 1996.…
Isaac Newton
from 1687 to 1727
10 moments here
English mathematician, physicist, astronomer, theologian, alchemist, author, and public official.…
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
from 1764 to 1765
10 moments here
Austrian composer and performer of the Classical era. Born in Salzburg, Mozart toured Europe as a child prodigy, made three formative journeys to…
Lord Byron
from 1788 to 1812
10 moments here
George Gordon Noel Byron, 6th Baron Byron (1788–1824), was a British poet, peer, and political speaker.…
George Frideric Handel
from 1710 to 1759
10 moments here
German-British Baroque composer. Born in Halle, he worked in Hamburg, travelled in Italy, served as Kapellmeister at Hanover, and settled in England.…
Thomas More
from 1478 to 1535
10 moments here
English lawyer, humanist author, royal councillor, Speaker of the House of Commons, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and Lord Chancellor under…
Karl Marx
from 1845 to 1883
9 moments here
German philosopher, economist, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. Born in Trier, Marx studied in Bonn and Berlin, worked in Cologne, and…
Michael Faraday
from 1791 to 1860
9 moments here
English chemist and physicist whose experimental work transformed the study of electromagnetism and electrochemistry.…
Charles Darwin
from 1829 to 1882
8 moments here
English naturalist, geologist, and biologist whose observations during the global voyage of HMS Beagle and subsequent research led to his theory of…
Friedrich Engels
from 1843 to 1895
8 moments here
German philosopher, political theorist, revolutionary socialist, businessman, and Karl Marx’s lifelong collaborator.…
Francis Bacon
from 1561 to 1626
8 moments here
English philosopher, lawyer, statesman, Attorney General, and Lord Chancellor under James I.…
Amy Winehouse
from 1992 to 2011
8 moments here
British singer and songwriter Amy Jade Winehouse was born in London and became internationally known for the albums Frank and Back to Black.…
Jane Austen
from 1788 to 1815
7 moments here
English novelist Jane Austen spent her life in southern England, principally in Hampshire, Bath, Southampton, Chawton, and Winchester.…
Moments
- 1374 Residence above Aldgate Geoffrey Chaucer
- 1386 Member of the Wonderful Parliament Geoffrey Chaucer
- 1390 Robbed at Hatcham Geoffrey Chaucer
- 1390 Robbed at Westminster Geoffrey Chaucer
- 1399 Residence in the Westminster Abbey close Geoffrey Chaucer
- 1400 Death in London Geoffrey Chaucer
- 1478 Birth in the City of London Thomas More
- 1494 Legal training at New Inn Thomas More
- 1496 Student at Lincoln's Inn Thomas More
- 1503 Spiritual exercises at the London Charterhouse Thomas More
- 1505 Second stay in England Desiderius Erasmus
- 1505 Residence at the Old Barge Thomas More
- 1510 Arrival at Thomas More's house Desiderius Erasmus
- 1525 Move to Chelsea Thomas More
- 1533 Birth at Greenwich Palace Elizabeth I
- 1534 Appearance before the succession-oath commission Thomas More
- 1534 Imprisonment in the Bell Tower Thomas More
- 1535 Execution at Tower Hill Thomas More
- 1535 Treason trial at Westminster Hall Thomas More
- 1547 Household at Chelsea Elizabeth I
- 1553 Entry into London with Mary Elizabeth I
- 1554 Imprisonment in the Tower of London Elizabeth I
- 1559 Coronation at Westminster Abbey Elizabeth I
- 1561 Birth at York House Francis Bacon
- 1576 Admission to Gray's Inn Francis Bacon
- 1579 Residence for legal study Francis Bacon
- 1583 Residence at Castelnau's London house Giordano Bruno
- 1584 Ash Wednesday discussion at Whitehall Giordano Bruno
- 1588 Thanksgiving procession to St Paul's Elizabeth I
- 1592 Established on the London stage William Shakespeare
- 1594 Performs before Elizabeth I at Greenwich William Shakespeare
- 1597 Recorded as a St Helen's householder William Shakespeare
- 1598 Acts at the Curtain Theatre William Shakespeare
- 1599 Moves to Southwark William Shakespeare
- 1600 Essex hearing at York House Francis Bacon
- 1601 Counsel at the Essex treason trial Francis Bacon
- 1603 Death at Richmond Palace Elizabeth I
- 1604 Lodges with the Mountjoy family William Shakespeare
- 1606 Marriage to Alice Barnham Francis Bacon
- 1608 Installed among the Blackfriars players William Shakespeare
- 1608 Birth on Bread Street John Milton
- 1611 Continues visiting London after retirement William Shakespeare
- 1612 Gives evidence at Westminster William Shakespeare
- 1613 Signs the Blackfriars transaction in London William Shakespeare
- 1614 Returns to London with John Hall William Shakespeare
- 1621 Imprisonment in the Tower Francis Bacon
- 1626 Home during Lent Term John Milton
- 1626 Death at Arundel House Francis Bacon
- 1629 Diplomatic mission in London Peter Paul Rubens
- 1629 Diplomatic audience at Greenwich Peter Paul Rubens