The Greatest Ever Englishmen?

Chizz

I'm currently writing a book, the subject of which is the greatest ever Englishmen. So, naturally I am expecting a certain amount of disagreement. Why wasn't x included? What makes y so special? Did z really die in that slightly embarrassing, yet peculiarly apt way?

To help me fine tune the list of participants, can you please provide a list of your five (and five only) genuine, heartfelt "greatest" Englishmen. Use your own criteria, but please stick to five...

Friend Or Defoe

Issac Newton
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Horatio Nelson
Charles Darwin
Winston Churchill


Andrew Wiles (?)

ShootersHillGuru

Horatio Nelson
Issac Newton
Charles Darwin
Winston Churchill
Henry Cavendish

ThreadKiller

nelson
darwin
newton
cook
faraday

Addickted

King Edward III

King Henry V

Arthur Wellsley (The Duke of Wellington)

John Churchill (1st Duke of Marlborough)

Admiral Lord Nelson

1st reserve - Major General James Wolf

You can quess my criteria.... :-))

ThreadKiller

i think they have to be english though

Goonerhater

King Harold
Alfred The Great
Nelson
Edward II

Friend Or Defoe

I think Sir Francis Drake is also a good shout.

Goonerhater

When you hear the sound of Drakes Drum England is about to be invaded-----must have been banging the thing lik a bastard over the last 3 years !

Goonerhater

Jenner



Boudica
Eliz the First

Goonerhater

Tim Berners - Lee

falconwood_1

Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Born in Portsmouth, never knew that.

Goonerhater

Barnes Wallace
Chris Cockerall

Oggy Red

[cite]Posted By: ThreadKiller[/cite]
Garry Nelson
Denis Irwin
Shaun Newton
Lee Cook
Robin Friday

I couldn't agree with some of those, I'm afraid ........

;o)

tommo

Clive Medonca

tommo

Derek Hales

tommo

Oliver Cromwell

tommo

Charlie Chaplin

tommo

Sam Bartram

Oggy Red

Tommo


PS: You on a roll there, Tommo ....?

Goonerhater

The Bard
Wordsworth
Milton
Shelly
Dickens

WSS

Andy Murray

stonemuse

Captain James Cook
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Charles Darwin
William Hogarth
William Shakespeare

se9addick

Henry VIII – Despite his obvious failings, his influence turned England from a country on the fringes of Europe into a true world player – he was also instrumental in turning English into a major language (before it was not widely spoken – even in England)
Churchill – Legendary leader, stood on his own against fascism for some time and was not intimidated. Owe him so much. Wish we had a politician of his ilk today.
Shakespeare – Amazing writer, who to this day is still the most famous of all time. His plays are recited around the globe and no one has, or probably will, come close to his level of fame. His and contribution to the English language cannot be underestimated
John Lennon – England has given so much in terms of contemporary music to the world it would be a shame not to put an artist in
Ebenezer Cobb Morley – He drew up the rules of football – the sport which has become the common denominator for the vast majority of earth. No sport can come close in terms of popularity or participation and it’s appeal is growing all the time. At around the time the British empire was doing so much to divide the world, one of it’s lasting legacies is the one thing which truly brings the world together – sport. And this is the sport which leads them all. Whilst it’s hard to say any one person “invented” football, I think this guy would have a fair shout at being recognized on behalf of the greatest gift these shores have bestowed upon the world.

ThreadKiller

david niven
ranulph fiennes
william wilberforce
charles dickens
max woosnam
charles burgess fry

Oggy Red

Wat Tyler, who marched through Dartford and Blackheath to London to face the King:

"In 1381 the effort to strictly enforce the collection of taxes created discontent throughout England. Wat Tyler's rebellion was ignited when a tax collector tried to make a determination that Wat Tyler's daughter was of taxable age (15) by stripping her naked and assaulting her. Tyler, who was working close by, heard the screams of his wife and daughter, came running and smashed in the tax collector's skull with a hammer. He was cheered by his neighbors and the commoners of the western division of Kent were brought together by his courage. Wat Tyler was elected their leader.

Wat Tyler's group joined another group led by two itinerant priests named John Ball and Jack Straw, and rose 100,000 strong to invade London. The enraged mob broke open every prison and beheaded every judge and lawyer they could capture. They were not allowed to enrich themselves in their rioting. Valuables found in their midst were destroyed. One man who hid a silver cup on his person was thrown into the river as punishment for his misdeed and as an example to others to refrain from such behavior.

They surrounded Richard II, who asked them what they wanted. Their answer was, "We will be free forever, our heirs and our lands." Richard II agreed.

In a face-to-face meeting with unarmed Wat Tyler a short time later, Richard II ordered the Lord Mayor of London to "set hands on him." Tyler was stabbed through the throat with a short sword and, as he lay writhing in agony on the ground after falling off his horse, stabbed through the belly. "

dartfordgent

churchill / henry v / nelson / Harold ( not steptoe ) / wren /

RalphMilnesgut

[cite]Posted By: se9addick[/cite]Henry VIII – Despite his obvious failings, his influence turned England from a country on the fringes of Europe into a true world player – he was also instrumental in turning English into a major language (before it was not widely spoken – even in England)

No1 in top list of what makes England English

D_F_T

Maggie!

SoundAsa£

[cite]Posted By: RalphMilnesgut[/cite]

[cite]Posted By: se9addick[/cite]Henry VIII – Despite his obvious failings, his influence turned England from a country on the fringes of Europe into a true world player – he was also instrumental in turning English into a major language (before it was not widely spoken – even in England)

No1 in top list of what makes England English

And still isn't in some places.........................................................................LOL!

DaveMehmet

[cite]Posted By: Oggy Red[/cite]Wat Tyler, who marched through Dartford and Blackheath to London to face the King:

"In 1381 the effort to strictly enforce the collection of taxes created discontent throughout England. Wat Tyler's rebellion was ignited when a tax collector tried to make a determination that Wat Tyler's daughter was of taxable age (15) by stripping her naked and assaulting her. Tyler, who was working close by, heard the screams of his wife and daughter, came running and smashed in the tax collector's skull with a hammer. He was cheered by his neighbors and the commoners of the western division of Kent were brought together by his courage. Wat Tyler was elected their leader.

Wat Tyler's group joined another group led by two itinerant priests named John Ball and Jack Straw, and rose 100,000 strong to invade London. The enraged mob broke open every prison and beheaded every judge and lawyer they could capture. They were not allowed to enrich themselves in their rioting. Valuables found in their midst were destroyed. One man who hid a silver cup on his person was thrown into the river as punishment for his misdeed and as an example to others to refrain from such behavior.

They surrounded Richard II, who asked them what they wanted. Their answer was, "We will be free forever, our heirs and our lands." Richard II agreed.

In a face-to-face meeting with unarmed Wat Tyler a short time later, Richard II ordered the Lord Mayor of London to "set hands on him." Tyler was stabbed through the throat with a short sword and, as he lay writhing in agony on the ground after falling off his horse, stabbed through the belly. "

He had his own pub too