Newton Abbot - Notable People

Notable People

  • John Dynham, 1st Baron Dynham (died 1501), a leading royal councillor to three kings, was a native of Newton Abbot.
  • Robert Hayman, poet, and governor of Newfoundland, born in Wolborough (now part of Newton Abbot) in 1575.
  • John Lethbridge, who invented a diving salvage machine in 1715.
  • Lewis Tessier, merchant and political figure in Newfoundland, born here in 1820.
  • William Knox D'Arcy, a founder of the petrochemical industry in Persia, born here in 1849.
  • Frank Matcham, the theatrical architect, born here in 1854.
  • General Sir Leslie Rundle, a British Army General, born here in 1856.
  • Frank Harry, first-class cricketer, born here in 1876.
  • Ivy Williams, the first woman to be called to the English bar, born here in 1877.
  • Fred Thompson, writer and librettist was born in London in 1884, but raised here.
  • Sir Samuel White Baker, explorer, big-game hunter, writer and abolitionist, bought the Sandford Orleigh estate in 1874, and died there in 1893. Baker's Park in the south west of the town is named after him.
  • Oliver Heaviside, the physicist, lived here from 1897 to 1909.
  • Edith Mayne, freestyle swimmer, born here in 1905.
  • Norah Baring, movie actress, born here in 1907.
  • Don Bird, professional footballer, born here in 1908.
  • Robert Cyril Layton Perkins (1866–1955), entomologist, retired here in 1912.
  • Len Coldwell, cricketer, born here in 1933.
  • David Vine, TV sports presenter, born here in 1935.
  • John Wilcox, cricketer, born here in 1940.
  • Anthea Redfern, former television hostess, born here in 1948.
  • Hiley Edwards, cricketer who played for and captained Devon.
  • Peter Truscott, Baron Truscott, peer, petroleum and mining consultant, and writer, born here in 1959.
  • Sergio Pizzorno, guitarist and songwriter with band Kasabian, born here in 1980.
  • Guy Hendrix Dyas, designer and feature film production designer, raised here in the 1980s
  • Chris Metters, cricketer, played for South Devon CC and currently signed for Warwickshire County Cricket Club

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