Famous Sotonians

In addition to those mentioned in the section on Southampton's History, here are some other notable people connected with Southampton:

Jane AUSTEN

The famous author, Jane Austen, lived in Southampton between 1806 and 1809. Although the house, in which she and her family lived, no longer stands the Dolphin Hotel - where she attended dances - is in the High Street and, in her time, she would have been familiar with features still to be seen in Southampton's Old Town including the Bargate and the medieval walls. To mark the 200th anniversary of the year Jane took up residence in Southampton, a Jane Austen Trail was launched in July 2006. There are eight plaques each at a location associated with Jane and, available at Southampton Tourist Information Centre, there is a free Trail leaflet and a booklet for purchase.

King CANUTE (CNUT)

Canute Road in Southampton is named after him, as is the huge floating crane in Southampton Docks. Canute was proclaimed as King of England at Southampton in 1016. The famous action of Canute on the shoreline, 'ordering back the waves', is said to have happened in Southampton.

Roy CHADWICK

He was the designer of the Lancaster bomber used for night attacks on Germany in World War II and lived in Southampton. He worked for AV Roe, aircraft builders at Hamble a few miles from Southampton.

Herbert COLLINS

An Architect closely connected with the garden city movement, Herbert Collins lived in Southampton and designed the Uplands Estate at Highfield mainly in the 1920s and 1930s. He was also involved with developments at Bassett Green, Thornhill Park, and Swaythling. At West End, near Southampton, he designed the (old) Fire Station now used by West End Local History Society.

Emily DAVIES

The Founder of Girton College at Cambridge University was born in Southampton. She was a great campaigner for Women's Education and was very much involved in changing the place of women in society. She lived to see women being able to vote for the first time in Parliamentary General Elections in 1918.

EDWARD Prince of Wales (The Black Prince)

Eldest son of King Edward III who left Southampton with the King's army for the campaign in France that led to the Battle of Crecy in 1346. The tower on Southampton's old walls, popularly known as 'Catchcold', is actually Prince Edward's Tower and was named in honour of The Black Prince.

General GORDON

He is remembered as 'Gordon of Khartoum', the city in the Sudan where he was killed by forces loyal to the Mahdi in 1885. Members of his family lived in Southampton and there is a family tomb in Southampton's Old Cemetery on Southampton Common on which Gordon is commemorated. He is not buried there as no part of his body was recovered. In Queen's Park there is a memorial to him and there is a plaque on the family home at 5 Rockstone Place. He was known as Chinese Gordon for his service in the Far East and, on the Queen's Park memorial, can be seen Chinese characters being the nearest representation to his name in that language.

Benny HILL

Television Comedian. Born in Southampton and lived here in the family home. He was educated at Taunton's School and before becoming a television entertainer worked as a milkman in Eastleigh. He is buried in Southampton at Hollybrook Cemetery.

Jack MANTLE VC

One of only three men to have been awarded the VC (in Jack Mantle's case, posthumously) for actions in or over England. Jack Mantle's home was in Southampton. He died at Portland in Dorset of wounds received during a German attack on ships in harbour there, including HMS Foylebank on which he was serving. He is buried at Portland Naval Cemetery where his Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone bears the engraving of the Victoria Cross. He is commemorated in Southampton by Jack's Corner, a children's play area at the Sports Centre. The original plaque from Jack's Corner is now in Southampton's Maritime Museum.

John Everett MILLAIS

Famous Painter/Artist born in a house in Portland Street,Southampton. Near the site of the house there is a Southampton City Council wall plaque. The Millais Art Gallery at Southampton Institute on East Park Terrace is named after him.

Reginald Joseph MITCHELL

Born in 1895, R J Mitchell came to Southampton in 1917 to work for Supermarine, located at Woolston on the banks of the River Itchen. R J Mitchell designed 24 aircraft including the Vickers-Supermarine Spitfire, a fighter plane forever associated with the Battle of Britain in the Second World War. The Spitfire first flew, from what is now Southampton Airport, on 5 March 1936. Seventy years later, that first flight was re-enacted at the Airport on 5 March 2006 and five Spitfires then flew in formation up Southampton Water watched by huge crowds of people. At Solent Sky aviation museum in Southampton (www.spitfireonline.co.uk) a Mk 24 Spitfire is exhibited, the last version of the fighter plane.

Billy REID

A city council plaque in Ogle Road on the site of the old Hippodrome honours Billy Reid, a riveter turned songwriter whose 250 songs included 'Gypsy' which became a number one hit for his partner Dorothy Squires. The plaque was unveiled by Southampton resident Danny La Rue accompanied by Billy Reid's daughters.

Sarah SIDDONS (MRS SIDDONS)

Actress in the second half of the 18th Century and first part of the 19th Century who was famous for her tragic roles and her 'attitudes'. She had a house in Southampton near where Portland Street joins Portland Terrace.

Captain E J SMITH
The Captain of the RMS Titanic lived at Winn Road in Southampton. The site of the house is now occupied by a block of flats.

William Makepeace THACKERAY

This famous writer was at one time at school in Southampton. In later life he stayed at The Dolphin Hotel in Southampton's High Street where he wrote part of the novel 'Pendennis' .

Site Last Updated:
February 23, 2006