Just Devon
SOME FAMOUS DEVONIANS
Charles Babbage (1792-1871) born in Totnes, English inventor and mathematician. A pioneer underlying the principles of modern digital electronic computers.
Sue Barker (b.1956 in Paignton) English tennis player.
Sir Reginald Theodore Blomfield (1856-1942) born in Devon, English architect. His designs were noted for elaborate style which included the Menin Gale Memorial at Ypres, Belgium dedicated to WW1 dead (1926).
Henry Chadwick (1824-1908) born in Exeter, American journalist.
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller Christie (1890-1976) born in Torquay, English author, dramatist and "Queen of Crime".
William Kingdon Clifford (1845-1879) born in Exeter, philosopher and mathematician who developed the theory of biquaternions and linked them to general associative algebras. Wrote On the Space-Theory of Matter (1870). He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of London.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) born in Otter St. Mary, English poet and critic.
Peter Cook (1937-1995) born in Torquay, English actor won Tony award for Beyond the Fridge (1963).
Samuel Cousins (1801-1887) born in Exeter, English engraver.
Henry Austin Dobson (1840-1921) born in Plymouth, English poet, essayist.
Sir Francis Drake (1538?-1596) born near Tavistock, English navigator, explorer and mayor of Plymouth in 1581. He was knighted aboard the Golden Hind by Queen Elizabeth in 1581 being hailed as the first Englishman to circumnavigate the world.
Thomas D'Urfey (1653-1723) born in Exeter, English dramatist and songwriter.
John Endecott (1588-1665) born in Devonshire, American colonial figure, governor of MA.
Michael Foot (b.1913 in Plymouth) English politician, journalist.
Trevor Francis (b.1954 in Plymouth) English soccer player.
John Gay (1685-1732) born in Barnstaple, English poet, dramatist wrote Beggar's Opera (1728).
Sir Humphrey Gilbert (1539?-1583) born in Compton, English navigator, soldier and explorer. Half brother to Sir Walter Raleigh
Richard Greene (1918-1985) born in Plymouth, was an English actor known for his role as Robin Hood in the original TV series Robin Hood.
Nicholas Hilliard (1547?-1619) born in Exeter, English miniaturist artist.
Frederick Webb Hodge (1864-1956) born in Plymouth, English anthropologist.
Mary Howitt (1799-1888) born in Coleford, English translator, children’s author.
Rachel Kempson (b. 1910 in Dartmouth) English actress who starred in film Out of Africa (1985) and TV series Lorna Doone (1990), Jane Eyre (1971), Elizabeth R (1971) She is mother of Vanessa, Lynn Redgrave, Corin and married to Sir Michael Redgrave.
Charles Kingsley (1819-1875) born in Holne, English clergyman, author he wrote historical romances Hypatia (1853), West ward Ho (1855) and children's book The Water Babies (1863).
Duke John Churchill Marlborough (1650-1722) born in Devonshire, English army officer, statesman.
Thomas Newcomen (1663-1729) born in Dartmouth, English inventor. He invented the first practical steam engine (atmospheric) in 1712.
Sir Walter Raleigh (1552?-1618) born at Hayes Farm near Budleigh, English explorer.
Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792) born in Plympton, English artist.
John or 'Jack' Russell (1795-1883) born in Dartmouth, English curate at Swimbridge. He became famous for breeding small smooth-coated terriers which became known as the Jack Russell.
Captain Robert Falcon Scott (1868-1912) born nr. Stoke Damerel, Antarctic Explorer. A British Naval Officer and explorer who led the famed, ill fated second expedition to reach the South Pole.
Baron John Passmore Widgery (1911-1981) born in Devonshire, English judge.
The Old King William Pub,
William Street, Totterdown.
The King William was built in the very late 1860's or the early 1870's. It is
known that it was in existence on the 2nd April 1871, as on that date the census
shows that the King William was occupied. The landlord was Gilbert Babbage aged
33, who was born in Burrington, Devon. He was married to Mary who was six years
older, aged 39. Mary was also born at Burrington.
In 1871, William Street was still being built. The census shows only four houses
in the street. Number two, a small terraced house next door to the pub housed no
fewer than eleven inhabitants: being shared by three married couples and their
five children.
Gilbert Babbage had many rivals back in 1871. He was in direct competition with
the following drinking houses, all within a short staggering distance of his
pub:-
The Cambridge Inn, 1 Oxford Street.
The Robin Hood, 57 Oxford Street.
The Three Elms, 77 Oxford Street.
The Raglan, Wells Road.