Who are the most influential Britons of all time? Many names will be familiar to you, but what exactly did these people mean and what did they do? A few years ago, a British TV station held an election for 'most influential Briton'. Learn more about these extraordinary people! We'll start with number 5 and finish with the Briton who was voted the most influential Briton of all time.
Number 5: William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
English playwright, poet and actor William Shakespeare is considered the greatest English writer and the world's greatest playwright. He is the "National Poet" and "The Bard" of the UK. His work includes approximately 39 plays, 154 sonnets and 3 story poems. His plays have been translated into all living languages and Shakespeare is still performed more often than any other playwright. Among his absolute finest works are the tragedies written before 1609, notably Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear and Macbeth.
Number 4: Charles Darwin (1809 - 1882)
The English naturalist, geologist and biologist Charles Robert Darwin brought us the theory of evolution. He came up with the theory that all earthly life species descend from a shared ancestor. From there, they evolve according to the principle of natural selection, in which the "struggle for life" determines which species and characteristics are transferred and which disappear.
Number 3: Diana Frances Spencer (1961 - 1997)
As the first wife of the current heir to the British throne, Charles, the Prince of Wales, Diana (Lady Di) was a member of the British Royal Family (Princess of Wales). She is the mother of Princes William and Harry. In a short time, this rebellious princess made a deep impression on the British people: as a media star and fashionista, but also as an activist and charity worker.
In a special way, she concentrated on improving the living conditions of children and the elderly, cancer patients and people with mental illnesses. Her campaigns for the social acceptance of AIDS patients and for the removal of landmines in old war zones take the crown.
Number 2: Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806 - 1859)
The Englishman Brunel was an engineer and one of the most important figures of the Industrial Revolution. He built docks, railways, steamships, bridges and tunnels. Brunel is particularly notable for his innovative solutions to long-standing engineering problems. Among other things, he built the first tunnel under a navigable river (the Thames) and the first iron steamship with a propeller. His Great Western Railway, meanwhile, set the standard for well-built railways, and he introduced numerous new construction techniques, bridges, viaducts and tunnels.
Number 1: Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was an English politician and multiple Prime Minister. He receives the title of Greatest Briton mainly for his efforts as Prime Minister during the Second World War (1939/45). Already in the 1930s Churchill was the main opponent of the peace policy towards Adolf Hitler and his expansion policy. In September 1939, his opposition proved well-founded and Britain, too, found itself in the greatest war conflict of the 20th century.
In May 1940, Churchill took office as Prime Minister to revitalise and better organise the British war effort. With impassioned speeches and direct consultations with the people, he ensured the morale of his citizens in the most difficult circumstances. Especially in the period 1940/41, when Germany conquered Europe and neither Russia nor America were playing along, he managed to distinguish himself as a political and military leader.
The greatest Dutchman
An election for The Greatest Dutchman has also been held in the Netherlands. The place of honour is awarded by most voters to the Father of the Netherlands, William of Orange. The famous painters Rembrandt and Van Gogh also feature in the top 10.
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