Lyme Regis - Notable People

Notable People

  • Mary Anning (1799–1847) was an early British fossil collector and palaeontologist.
  • Jane Austen visited Lyme Regis three times in 1803 and 1804 staying for several weeks in the summer of 1804. The dramatic events in Persuasion led to a flow of fans to the town: the poet Tennyson is said to have gone straight to the Cobb on his arrival, saying, "Show me the exact spot where Louisa Musgrove fell!"
  • Thomas Coram (c 1688–1751), founder of the Foundling Hospital in London.
  • Eleanor Coade (1733–1821), manufacturer of the artificial stone known as coade stone, owned 'Belmont House' from 1784 until 1821.
  • John Fowles, who lived in Lyme Regis for 35 years, latterly in 'Belmont House', based his novel The French Lieutenant's Woman there.
  • Percy Gilchrist, the metallurgist, was born in Lyme Regis. He is most notable for his work in steel production.
  • Abraham Hayward (1801–1884), writer and essayist who, with his father Joseph Hayward, an amateur horticulturist of 'Westhill', Silver Street, Lyme Regis, successfully brought a landmark case in the 1840s on behalf of the citizens of Lyme Regis, to maintain a permanent right of way for the town's citizens across the cliffs to Axmouth and Seaton.
  • John Gould (1804–1881), artist and ornithologist, was born in Lyme Regis. He wrote and illustrated 18 books about birds including those from Australia. The Gould League is named after him.
  • Beatrix Potter's 1904 holiday in the town resulted in illustrations for her book Little Pig Robinson.
  • Maj Gen Sir E. B. Rowcroft (1881–1963), British Army officer and founder of REME retired to and died in Lyme Regis.
  • David Ruffle (1956-) Lyme Regis based author of Sherlock Holmes novels, some of which are set in the town, notably Sherlock Holmes and the Lyme Regis Horror and Sherlock Holmes and the Lyme Regis Legacy.
  • J. M. W. Turner (1775–1851), English Romantic artist painted a scene of Lyme Regis around 1834 that is now in the Cincinnati Art Museum, Ohio, USA.
  • Ian Gillan, vocalist for hard rock band Deep Purple lives in Lyme Regis.

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