Famous People Associated with Cockermouth, Cumbria

Famous People Associated with Cockermouth

William Wordsworth (1770-1850), poet and writer

Poet Laureate William Wordsworth - regarded as one of England's greatest Romantic poets - was born on April 7, 1770 in a fine Georgian house in Cockermouth, now called Wordsworth House.

Fletcher Christian (1764-1793), mutineer

In 1789, mutineers took control of the Bounty from Captain William Bligh, who, together with 18 non-mutineers, were cast adrift in a small boat. In 1790, nine of the mutineers settled on Pitcairn Island.

John Dalton (1766-1844), scientist

Eaglesfield's John Dalton is the chemist and physicist who developed the atomic theory of matter and is regarded as one of the fathers of modern physical science.

Fearon Fallows (1789-1831), astronomer

The Reverend Fearon Fallows, born in Cockermouth in 1789, became astronomer to King George IV, and founded the Royal Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.

Woodville, William (1752 - 1805), Quaker physician and botanist

pioneer of smallpox innoculation, and head of the London Smallpox and Inoculation Hospital.

Hunter Davies (1936- ), author

Hunter Davies, born in Renfrew, brought up in Carlisle, and now living in Loweswater, is the author of over thirty books, including biographies, novels, children's novels, and several books about Lakeland.

Margaret Forster (1938- ), author

Margaret Forster, born in Carlisle, and low living in Loweswater, has worked as a novelist, biographer and freelance literary critic.

For other famous people associated with Cumbria - see also: