Famous People in Birmingham and the West Midlands

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Famous People from the Midlands

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Some very famous people have come from the West Midlands. Here are some names that you will be familiar with...

	Asbury, Francis Methodist preacher from the Black Country of England who evangelised the frontier and transformed the United States of America.
	Attwood, Thomas Thomas Attwood, born in Halesowen, 6 October 1783, died in Malvern, Worcestershire
	Barbara Cartland Barbara Cartland always had a soft spot for Birmingham and visited it regularly for appearances on Pebble Mill and Birmingham radio stations.
	Baskerville, John John Baskerville was actually born in Wolverley, Worcestershire in 1706. In 1725 he moved to Birmingham
	Bird, Alfred Alfred Bird registered as a pharmacist in Birmingham in 1842, having served an apprenticeship to Phillip Harris of that city
	Black Sabbath Black Sabbath started in Birmingham, England in the late 60s under the name Earth
	Claire Short The Right Honourable Clare Short (born February 15, 1946) is a British Labour Party politician.
	Coley Burne Jones Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones (August 28, 1833 - June 17, 1898)was a British artist, closely associated with that of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.
	Conan Doyle, Arthur Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is the British author most famously known for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes
	Cutler, Judith Judith Cutler is a writer of crime fiction whose novels are mostly in three series
	Dexy's Midnight Runners Dexy's Midnight Runners are a British New Wave-pop and soul band who achieved their major success in the early-mid 1980s.
	Duncan Edwards Duncan Edwards (October 1, 1936 - February 21, 1958) was an English footballer
	Duran Duran Duran Duran is a pop group usually identified as part of the New Wave music scene
	Electric Light Orchestra Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) was a successful rock music group from the 1970s and 1980s
	Enoch Powell John Enoch Powell was a controversial British politician, the controversy mainly stemming from a speech he made on immigration in 1968.
	F W Lanchester Frederick William Lanchester was an English polymath and engineer who made important contributions to automotive engineering
	George Cadbury Born in Edgbaston 1839 George Cadbury was the son of a tea and coffee dealer John Cadbury.
	Halifax Man Didnt I read somewhere that cardboard cutouts of his were being stolen from Halifax branches.
	Herbert Austin Sir Herbert Austin, 1st Baron Austin (1866-1941) was an English automobile designer and builder.
	Issigonis, Alec Sir Alec Issigonis (1906-1988) was a designer of cars, now remembered chiefly for the development of the "Mini" in 1959.
	James Brindley James Brindley was born near Buxton in Derbyshire in 1716. He is famous for his canal building and the construction of the first major English canal.
	James Watt James Watt was actually born in Scotland in 1736 although he is associated with Birmingham
	Jasper Carrott Born in Acocks Green, Birmingham, he started his own folk club at 16 called "The Boggery" in Solihull
	Jerome K Jerome Jerome K Jerome is Walsall's most distinguished literary figure, born here on the 2nd May 1859.
	Joseph Chamberlain In 1873 he became mayor of Birmingham, in which capacity he promoted many civic improvements
	Joseph Priestley Joseph Priestley (March 13, 1733-February 6, 1804) was an English chemist, dissenting clergyman, and educator.
	Judas Priest Judas Priest have released eighteen albums to date, the first being "Rocka Rolla" in 1974 and the latest being "Demolition" in 2001
	Lenny Henry Lenny Henry (born Lenny Hinton on August 29, 1958 in Dudley, West Midlands) is a British entertainer.
	Lodge, David David Lodge is a British author whose novels often satirize academia in general, and the humanities in particular.
	Matthew Boulton Matthew Boulton was born in 1728, the son of a wealthy toy manufacturer in Snow Hill.
	Moody Blues The Moody Blues were originally an R&B based band of the British Invasion; they later became best known for psychedelic music and early prog rock
	Myall, Rik Rik Mayall (b March 7, 1958) is a British comedian and actor. He is well known for his comedy partnership with Adrian Edmondson
	Neville Chamberlain Neville Chamberlain was born in 1869, the son of Joseph Chamberlain. He is best known for his Munich Pact treaty of peace with Adolph Hitler
	Ozzy Osborne John Michael Osbourne (born December 3, 1948, in Aston, a suburb of Birmingham
	Parkes, Alexander The first Celluloid's were invented in Birmingham England by Alexander Parkes
	Shazia Mirza Shazia Mirza, born in 1975, is an exceptional comedian from Birmingham. A young Muslim women in stand-up comedy
	Tolkien John Ronald Reuel Although Tolkien was born in South Africa in January 1892 his parents were both from Birmingham
	Tony Hancock Middle son of Jack and Lily, Tony Hancock was born in Hall Green, Birmingham.
	The Charlatans The Charlatans (known in the United States are a British band. They originally formed in Birmingham
	The Move The Move is a 1960s rock music band from Birmingham, England, led by guitarist, singer and songwriter Roy Wood.
	Traffic Traffic was a 1970s rock band led by Steve Winwood. With Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason
	UB40 UB40 are a popular reggae and ska band who formed in 1978 in Birmingham, England.
	Washington, Irving Washington Irving was an American author of the early 19th century. He was born in New York City.
	William Murdoch William Murdoch (1754-1839) was a pioneer of gas lighting. His home, a cottage in Boulton and Watt's Soho Foundry, was the first domestic residence in the world to be so lit.
	William Withering William Withering (1741-1799) was a British physician and the discoverer of digitalis.
	William Edgar Oddie William Edgar Oddie is a British comedian, singer, television presenter and ornithologist.
	Winwood, Steve Steve Winwood (born May 12, 1948) was a part of the Birmingham Rhythm and blues scene from a young age, playing the Hammond organ and guitar