1. GREAT BRITONS British People that have Influenced the World Information taken from a poll run by the BBC

2. Sir Winston Churchill 1874 - 1965

3. Sir Winston Churchill He was a British politician and author, best known as Prime Minister during the Second World War. Churchill was famous for his stubborn resistance to Hitler during the darkest hours of the Second World War. He was born at Blenheim Palace near Oxford to the Duke of Marlborough. He rarely saw his parents and attended Harrow Boarding School. He was originally a Conservative politician but became a Liberal and was a key supporter of the ‘People’s Budget’ – this was the beginning of the Welfare State.

4. Isambard Kingdom Brunel 1806 - 1859

5. Isambard Kingdom Brunel Isambard Kingdom Brunel was a British engineer, who played a key role in the early industrial revolution. He built one of the first major railway routes – The Great Western Railway (GWR) between London and Bristol. He also designed and built steam ships and important bridges.

6. Princess Diana 1961 - 1997

7. Princess Diana Princess Diana was an iconic figure of the late 20 th Century; during her life she was often said to be the most photographed person in the World. She was admired for her ground-breaking charity work with a campaign for banning landmines. She was married to Prince Charles and is the mother of Prince William and Prince Harry.

8. Charles Darwin 1809 - 1882

9. Charles Darwin Charles Darwin was an English natural scientist who was known for the theory of evolution – showing how the human race evolved from lower life forms. He was born in to an influential family; his grandfather was the china manufacture Josiah Wedgwood. Darwin studied Divinity at university but he questioned how the World could be made in seven days.

10. William Shakespeare 1564 - 1616

11. William Shakespeare Shakespeare is known around the globe for his plays and sonnets. His plays are studied more than any other writing in the English language and have been translated into numerous other languages. He was considered a rare talent as he wrote tragedies, comedies and histories. William was born in Stratford to a successful business man and the daughter of a landowner – it s likely they paid for him to attend university.

12. Other Great Britons Isaac Newton – Scientist. He developed the colour spectrum by splitting white light through a prism and the theory of gravity, including the laws of motion of the planets. The story of Isaac having an apple fall on his head leading to the discovery of gravity is well known.

13. Other Great Britons John Lennon – Musician. A member of the world famous band the Beatles. Lord Nelson – Naval Officer. Led Britain to victory over Napoleon’s fleet and ended the threat of a French invasion. Stephen Hawking – famous for his work studying the universe, black holes and the ‘Big Bang Theory’. David Beckham – Footballer & iconic sportsman.

14. Mrs Greensides asks: I would pick Edward Jenner (1749 – 1823) as one of the greatest Britons. He discovered how to inoculate people against smallpox. This disease was deadly and killed many people. In 1979 the WHO declared smallpox extinct. It is said that through his work Jenner saved more lives than anyone else. Who would you pick? Why?