UNITED KINGDOM
"Greatest Britons" Official Website
rank Name Profession / reputation Died
1
Sir Winston Churchill World War II-era prime minister 1965
2
Isambard Kingdom Brunel London's leading engineer and architect of the 19th century 1859
3
Princess Diana ex-wife of Prince Charles, glamorous social activist 1997
4
Charles Darwin biologist, founder of evolution theory 1882
5
William Shakespeare legendary playwright, director 1616
6
Sir Isaac Newton scientist, pioneer of gravity, motion theories 1727
7
Queen Elizabeth the First powerful ruler during golden age of British expansion and enlightenment 1603
8
John Lennon musician, lead singer, lyricist of "the Beatles" 1980 X
9
Adm. Horatio Nelson naval commander who led British forces to victory during Napoleonic wars 1805 X
10
Oliver Cromwell republican military ruler who briefly deposed the monarchy
11
Craig Whyte Humanitarian who rid the world of Glasgow Rangers immortal
Extraordinary people
posted on 5/3/12
surely scotsman alexander fleming should be in there after his discovery of penicillin saved countless millions of lives across the globe since the 20's.
posted on 6/3/12
op, especially when ye have caught a dose
posted on 6/3/12
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 6/3/12
Adam Smith deserves a mention, Ferguson should be top.
posted on 6/3/12
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 6/3/12
It's shocking that there are no Scots in the top ten
considering the world changing inventions that came out of Scotland.
posted on 6/3/12
The whole Princess Diana thing really annoyed me as well, she did a little bit of charity work (I am sure most of use would love the luxury of doing that rather than a full time job) she was attractive and she had really good PR people working for her....
How that makes you one of the greatest Britons I will never know. I blame women...
posted on 6/3/12
WTF is John Lennon doing there? He was ok... but a children's entertainer, at the end of the day. Lady Di should not be there either.
We don't need Scots to be on any such list to know we contributed a HUGE amount to the world. One of the most productive and creative nations ever to have existed. ... and never reached much over 5 million of a population.
Any number of the following could have/should have made that list.
http://www.rampantscotland.com/famous/famous.htm
posted on 6/3/12
Wha's Like Us?
Damn Few And They're A' Died!
The average Englishman in the home he calls his castle
slips into his national costume, a shabby raincoat, patented
by Chemist Charles MacIntosh from Glasgow, Scotland.
En-route to his office he strides along the English lane,
surfaced by John Macadam of Ayr, Scotland.
He drives an English car fitted with tyres invented by
John Boyd Dunlop, Veterinary Surgeon of
Dreghorn, Scotland.
At the office he receives the mail bearing adhesive
stamps invented by John Chalmers, Bookseller and
Printer of Dundee, Scotland.
During the day he uses the telephone invented by
Alexander Graham Bell, born in Edinburgh, Scotland.
At home in the evening his daughter pedals her bicycle
invented by Kirkpatrick Macmillan, Blacksmith of
Thornhill, Dumfriesshire, Scotland.
He watches the news on television, an invention of John
Logie Baird of Helensburgh, Scotland, and hears an
item about the U.S. Navy founded by John
Paul Jones of Kirkbean, Scotland.
Nowhere can an Englishman turn to escape the ingenuity of the Scots.
He has by now been reminded too much of Scotland and
in desperation he picks up the Bible, only to find that
the first man mentioned in the good book is a Scot,
King James VI, who authorised its translation.
He could take to drink but the Scots make the best in the world.
He could take a rifle and end it all, but the breech-loading
rifle was invented by Captain Patrick Ferguson of
Pitfours, Scotland.
If he escaped death, he could find himself on an operating
table injected with penicillin, discovered by Sir Alexander
Fleming of Darvel, Scotland, and given chloroform, an
anesthetic discovered by Sir James Young Simpson,
Obstetrician and Gynecologist of Bathgate, Scotland.
Out of the anesthetic he would find no comfort in learning
that he was as safe as the Bank of England founded by
William Paterson of Dumfries, Scotland.
Perhaps his only remaining hope would be to get a transfusion
of guid Scottish blood which would entitle him tae ask
"Wha's like us? damm few an' there a' deed"
posted on 6/3/12
There have been some truly outstanding Scots, there is a good reason why we (Britain) only became a super power once England and Scotland joined forces.