Richard Trevithick inventor and engineer. Born in Illogan in 1771 he began experimenting with the idea of producing a steam locomotive. Trevithick Trusts Site a trust for the protection of Cornwall's industrial heritage. 'Trevithick Celebrations' working group set up in February 2001. Camborne Trevithick Day. The Trevithick Trust has now ceased operating. A stained glass window in the memory of Richard Trevithick is in Westminster Abbey
Dr Roger Slack St Ives GP and resident has died August 2007 aged 88. He started his career in St. Ives in 1947 and cared for local artists including Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson and Patrick Heron
Nick Darke well known Cornish playwright died in June 2005. He was born in 1948 in St Eval near Padstow. Nick Darke's film The wrecking season. Radio plays by Nick Darke. He became a Bard of the Cornish Gorsedd in 1996 taking the Bardic name Scryfer Gwaryow. Cornish actor Carl Grose has completed a play that was left unfinished by Nick Darke and is to tour Cornwall
Rosamunde Pilcher best selling novelist born in 1924 in Lelant Cornwall. She got her start in 1949 as an author of Mills and Boon romance under the name of Jane Fraser. Her first novel as Rosamunde Pilcher. 'A Secret To Tell' was published in 1955. In 1965 she began to use her own name. Rosamunde is very popular in Germany and they have made many of her novels into TV films ( a German web site)
Rick Rescorla born in the Cornish town of Hayle in 1939, Rick was inspired by American GI's preparing for D-Day in the town. Rick and his friend both enlisted in the United States Army in 1963. Cornishman Rick Rescorla’s heroism is legendary and he died rescuing thousands in the 9/11 twin towers World Trade Centre attack in 2001. The Cornish Stannary Parliament presented the White Cross of Cornwall award at the Rescorla Memorail Stone in Hayle on the 10th October 2003. 
Rick Rescorla's cousin in a BBC news story talking about Rick. a film interveiw with Rick Rescorla. THE RICHARD C. RESCORLA MEMORIAL FOUNDATION. A memorial to Rick Rescorla is unveiled in the United States
Silas K. Hocking born 1850 in St Stephen-in-Brannel Cornwall. Silas was an author and preacher. His father James was tenant of a small farm called Broadmoor in St Stephen in Brannel. The farm was owned by Boconnoc Estate. James was called a mine agent but in reality he was a miner and farmer. Silas became a Methodist minister in Liverpool. and was the first author to sell a million books in his lifetime. 'Her Benny' a story of Victorian Liverpool by Silas Hocking made into a film and a show. Joseph Hocking born 1860 and brother of Silas also a preacher and novelist. One of his novels Prodigal Daughters was made into a film in 1923. Salome Hocking sister of Silas and Joseph
Cassandra latham village wise woman and Pagan councilor in St. Buryan. One time private nurse to Rowena Cade founder of the Minack theatre. A short documentary about Cassandra latham. The celebrated Romany, Granny Boswell was well known in Helston Cornwall. She was known as a fortune teller and respected for her wisdom and knowledge of charms. Ann Boswell came to England from Ireland in around 1846. Granny Boswell is buried in Tregerest Cemetery with her husband Ephraim Boswell 'King of the Gypsies'. Thomasine Blight Cornish cunning woman more popularly known as Tammy Blee
Mary Wesley best selling author of The Camomile Lawn and other novels set in Cornwall. She had her first novel pulished when she was aged 70. Mary died on December 30th 2002 at her home in Totnes Devon aged 90 .
to Mary Wesley on radio BBC 4's Woman's Hour
Sir John Betjeman poet and critic. He was knighted in 1969, and was Poet Laureate from 1972-1984. He fell in love with Cornwall during his childhood holidays and continued to return to Cornwall yearly until his death. The John Betjeman Centre website. He is buried at St. Enodoc's Church, Trebetherick, North Cornwall. The John Betjeman Cornish birthday party 28th August 2006.To mark the anniversary on 28 August. The Betjeman Country Cornwall Group hopes to get all local churches to ring their bells at the same time. a BBC news story about Betjeman and the centenary of his birth at a gathering in North Cornwall. J B Priestly the famous author and playwright of 'An Inspector Calls' is reputed to have been living at 'Old Borough House' in Bossiney North Cornwall during World War Two. D H Lawrence lived in Zennor north Cornwall with his wife during part of World War One. He wrote parts of his book 'Women in love' while he lived in Zennor
Charles Lee author who between 1896 and 1911 published five novels, short stories and plays about working people in Cornwall. Born in London Charles Lee adopted Cornwall as his home and lived amongst the Newlyn artists
Humphry Davy born on the 17 December 1778. The son of a woodcarver who farmed the copyhold of Varfell a few miles outside Penzance. He was the inventor of the miners safety lamp. Humphrey Davy experimented with the physiological properties of 'laughing gas' ( Nitrous oxide) discovered by Joseph Priestley. Davy noted the anaesthetic effects of the gas and it was used in clinical dentistry and medicine in the early 1840's. Some of Davy's most important investigations were devoted to electrochemistry. The famous physicist Michael Faraday was a laboratory assistant to Humphry Davy. Humphry Davy enjoyed writing poetry and was a friend of William Wordsworth. A medal given to Humphry Davy by Napoleon was thrown into the sea at Mounts Bay Cornwall after his death in 1829 by his widow Jane Davy. The Royal Society of Chemistry has offered over £1,800 for the discovery of the medal. Divers will be searching for the medal given to Humphry Davy by Napoleon Bonaparte
A. L. Rowse historian and poet from St Austell and son of a clay worker. He died in 1997. view a photo of A. L. Rowse
William Cookworthy discoverer of china clay in Cornwall. He was born in Devon in 1705 and was the son of a weaver. a film clip from pathe news of the china clay pits in Cornwall
John Nettles actor born in St. Austell and went to St. Austell grammar school. He plays chief inspector Tom Barnaby in Midsummer Murders. Jane Wymark who plays John Nettles wife Joyce also played Morwenna in the Poldark TV series. Robert Duncan born in St. Austell played Gus in the TV comedy Drop the Dead Donkey
William Golding lord of the flies author, who was born in Newquay Cornwall in 1911. He won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1983 and died in 1993
the fox family of Falmouth were a wealthy Quaker family. Robert Were Fox (1789-1877) was a scientist and geologist and proved that the temperature within the earth increases with depth, now known as the geothermal gradient. Robert Were Fox and his two daughters Caroline and Maria were the founders of The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society in 1833. The society
devoted time to the improvement of the mining industry and particularly the welfare of its workers. Robert lived at Penjerrick and the garden was created by him and his children. Caroline Fox (1819 - 1871) daughter of Robert Were Fox was a diarist and well known for a diary recording memories of many distinguished people. 'Memories of Old Friends' published in 1882 after her death. Her brother Barclay (1817–1855) also wrote journals. Anna Maria Fox (1815-1897) Caroline's sister was an amateur painter. Charles Fox (1797-1878) brother of Robert Were Fox bought Trebah house and gardens near Falmouth in 1826. Trebah was first laid out as a 26 acre pleasure garden by Charles. Charles Fox helped Robert Hunt to found the Miners Association of Cornwall and Devon in 1858. Glendurgan was purchased by Alfred Fox brother of Charles. He developed the garden and many of the old trees seen today at Glendurgan were planted by Alfred
Silvanus Trevail Cornish architect born in Luxulyan in 1851. He was Mayor of Truro 1894 – 1895 and, President of the Society of Architects. Camelot Castle was built in 1899 by Silvanus Trevail. The Hayle Institute built in 1893 was a collaboration between Passmore Edwards and Silvanus Trevail.
John Passmore Edwards born in Blackwater Cornwall in 1823. A journalist and philanthropist he financed many public buildings.He became a journalist, MP for Salisbury, editor of a London newspaper and a champion of the working classes. He supported chartism and peace movements. Newlyn art gallery was built with money from John Passmore Edwards. A cottage hospital in Liskeard built from a bequest from John Passmore Edwards is saved from demolition
virginia woolf born in London in 1882. Famous novelist, feminist, essayist, critic and sister of painter Vanessa Bell. Family holidays were spent at Tallend House in St. Ives Cornwall. St. Ives played a large part in Virginia's imagination. London and St. Ives provided settings for most of her novels. Godrevy Lighthouse inspired her famous novel 'To The Lighthouse' although set in the Isle of Skye. The historic lighthouse which inspired Virginia Woolf to write her most famous work may be switched off. Reprieve for Virginia Woolf's lighthouse
Joseph Emidy 19th-century black composer who was born in Guinea, but lived as a slave in Portugal and Brazil, was a ship's musician on board a British naval frigate, and eventually settled in Falmouth. He arrived in Falmouth in 1799 and eventually became leader of the Truro Philharmonic Orchestra. He died in Truro in 1835 and a special trail has been created in a Cornish churchyard to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade. Joseph Emidy enslaved in West Africa and freed in Cornwall is remembered during a special service led by the Bishop of Truro. cornwall abolition from the bbc website
D. M. Thomas Novelist and Poet born in 1935 in Carnkie Redruth a Cornish tin-mining village. He has published seven collections of verse, thirteen novels, including the modern classic The White Hotel (1981), translated into twenty seven languages. A Booker Prize shortlisted author 1981. D M Thomas gives Cornish culture a dramatic boost. The late poet Zofia Ilinska and friend of D. M. Thomas fled Poland when she was 17 with her mother in 1939 at the start of World War II. She and her mother came to live in Cornwall. Zofia lived and ran hotels in St Mawes with her second husband. The author Philip Marsden who lives in Cornwall has written a book about Zofia's early life
Emily Hobhouse born in 1860 and a descendant of Bishop Trelawny. Raised in the tiny village of St. Ive near Liskeard in East Cornwall. She became involved in social work and political reform and was an active member of the adult suffrage society. In 1900 Emily formed the relief fund for South African women and children. She became involved in dangerous activity during the First World War after which she helped keep Germans and Russians alive
leo walmsley author and playwright born 1892 in Shipley in West Yorkshire. A friend of Daphne Du Maurier he lived in an old army hut with his second wife at Pont Pill near Polruan before finally settling in Fowey with his third wife. Leo Walmsley died in 1966
Henry Trengrouse born 1772 and educated at Helston grammar school. He invented the rocket powered rescue system for ships in distress. a film from British Pathe of men being rescued by breeches buoy in 1952 off Lands End
Winston graham was born in 1910 in Manchester. He wrote the popular Poldark novels. His first novel Ross Poldark was published in 1945. He spent 30 years at Perranporth in Cornwall where he wrote his first four Poldark books. Winston Graham died on the 10th July 2003 aged 93. Poldark's Cornwall - The Life and Works of Winston Graham' is being staged at the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro from 14 June to 13 September 2008
denys val baker 1917-1984 born in Wales he moved to Cornwall in the late 1940's. A pacifist vegetarian and writer of novels, autobiographies and short stories. Denys Val Baker was also a successful editor and journalist and his second wife Jess set up the Mask Pottery in St Ives in 1958. The talent of the Scottish poet W.S Graham was recognised by Denys Val Baker who published his work in the Cornish Review
Captain Bligh born in St Tudy in Cornwall in 1754. Aged 33 he was given the command of 'The Bounty'. Charles Laughton played Captain Bligh in the famous 1935 film Mutiny on the Bounty. a trailer of the film. Fletcher Christian aged 23 years was the master's mate on the Bounty
Samuel Foote actor and comic dramatist born in Truro in 1720 into a wealthy Cornish family
Daphne Du Maurier famous novelist born in 1907 who was inspired by her love of Cornwall. Grand-daughter of the artist and writer George and daughter of Gerald du Maurier actor manager. The Du Maurier web site was set up to provide a forum for all things concerning Daphne Du Maurier and her works. a 1946 British Pathe film clip of Daphne Du Maurier. Daphne came to Fowey in her early 20's. Daphne Du Maurier video clips. her son Kits Browning talk about his mother Daphne in a short film clip. the Tywardreath players are based in Daphne Du Maurier's local village perform her plays. Daphne du Maurier Classic Yacht Cruise. Daphne Du Maurier's notebooks. Daphne Du Maurier Walk: The House on the Strand. The Daphne du Maurier Festival of Arts & Literature
Mary Kelynack a Madron fishwife born in 1777 at Newlyn walked 300 miles to London to visit the Great Exhibition of 1851 where she met Queen Victoria
Valda Trevlyn was born in Bude, Cornwall in 1906. Valda was the second wife of the Scottish poet and political activist Hugh MacDiarmid (pen name of Christopher Murray Grieve), founder member of the National Party of Scotland (SNP). Valda was a staunch Cornish Nationalist throughout her life. The book Scarcely Ever Out of My Thoughts the letters from Valda to Christopher originate in 1933 but they span their lifetime together. A photograph from the website of poet Gerry Cambridge featuring a portrait of Valda Trevlyn in Hugh MacDiarmid's cottage. Linda Cracknell a writer who appears in the photo has witten a play which has been broadcast by BBC radio called 'The Best Snow for Skiing' about Valda Trevlyn. She died aged 82 at Brownsbank Cottage in 1989
w j burley author born 1914 in Falmouth. The Cornish TV detective series Wycliffe is based on novels by W. J. Burley. His first novel was published in 1966. W J Burley died in Cornwall in 2002
Thomas Hardy born 1840 in Higher Bockhampton in Dorset. Hardy was a poet and novelist and met his future wife Emma Gifford on the door step of St Juliet rectory near Boscastle in Cornwall. Poems by Thomas Hardy about his Cornish wife Emma Gifford. A stained glass window marking Thomas Hardy's links to Cornwall
John Couch Adams born in 1819 in Laneast parish on Bodmin moor. An astronomer and mathematician and co-discoverer of the planet Neptune. Papers of John Couch Adams. Nobel Prize-winning astronomer Professor Anthony Hewish was born in 1924 in Fowey. Edwin Dunkin astronomer was born in Truro Cornwall (1821–1898)
Richard Lower born in 1631 near Bodmin is famous for his anatomical work on the brain and nerves. He was involved in the first experiment with blood transfusions
Andrew Pears a farmers son from Mevagissey who invented the transparent soap
George Lloyd symphonist and opera composer born in St. lves in 1913. His first opera was performed in Penzance. to George Lloyd. He died in 1998 at the age of 85
Alex Parks singer who was the winner of the TV show Fame Academy. Alex grew up in the village of Mount Hawke on the Cornish coast, and has picked up a £1m recording contract. to Alex Parks music and a video
Selina Cooper was a suffragette and the first woman to represent the Independent Labour Party. She was born in Callington in 1864. Because of little work in Cornwall she moved at the age of 12 with her mother and brother to the north of England and worked in the textile mills
Rowena Cade born in 1893 built the Minack, the famous cliffside theatre in Porthcurno with her own hands. Rowena started building the theatre in 1931 and was the labourer to her gardner Billy Rawlings. An account of musician Inglis Gundry's friendship with Rowena Cade. The late Inglis Gundry was the vice-President of the Cornish Music Guild
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Judith Cook born and brought up in Manchester in 1933. She began her career as a journalist for the Guardian newspaper. Judith Cook was also a campaigner. and has written on social issues, including the death of CND campaigner Hilda Murrell. She has also published books on JB Priestley and Daphne du Maurier. In the early 1950's Judith moved to Cornwall. She left Cornwall in the early 1970's and returned later and settled in Newlyn. Judith Cook worked in Cornwall for more than 40 years. Judith died May 12th 2004
John Arnold famous watchmaker born in Bodmin in 1735. Starting from 1769 he dedicated himself to building marine chronometers
William Bickford invented the safety fuse. His invention saved countless lives. Bickford safety fuse factory and Tuckingmill Factory Row in Camborne
Sir Goldsworthy Gurney born in 1793 Padstow. Cornish inventor of the 'Limelight' used in lighthouses. Project Limelight is a proposal to create a facility to interpret the fascinating history and heritage of Bude and the surrounding area within Bude Castle which was built by Sir Goldsworthy Gurney in 1830. The Limelight seeks to restore it, open it to the public and use it to tell the exciting story of Gurney’s nineteenth century inventions
Sir Arthur Quiller Couch famous Cornish author and historian. He published much of his fiction under the pseudonym 'Q'. He was born in Bodmin in 1863 but adopted Fowey as his home for most of his life. The town and the harbour featured in many of his novels under the name of 'Troy'. The Q fund was set up after his death in 1944 to support local people who are researching literary or allied subjects. Kenneth Grahame the famous childrens writer and friend of Arthur Quiller Couch, often came to stay in Fowey for holidays and got married in Fowey parish church in 1899. It is said his boat trips along the River Fowey influenced his most famous book 'The Wind in the Willows'
Cornwall Online Census Project the Free Census Project is transcribing all the UK 19th century census returns in order to create an online “free-to-view” searchable database. St Just History is a personal genealogy research service for people from St Just and Pendeen regions of Cornwall
Cornish Surnames meaning of surnames Cornwall Surnames Listings. Celtic male and female names of Cornwall. The Cornwall Record Office in Truro has released a list of over 1,000 unusual names found in censuses and births, deaths and marriage records in Cornwall dating back as far as the 16th Century. Cornish christian names. The Surname Profiler Project has investigated the distribution of surnames in Great Britain, both current and historic, in order to understand patterns of regional economic development, population movement and cultural identity. This website allows users to search databases to trace the geography and history of their family names. Common family naming patterns
1901 Census Of England And Wales the official genealogy site of 1901. the national archives uk government record and information management. The Cornwall Centre in Redruth is the only public library with professional librarians and staff who specialise solely in helping those who are studying Cornwall. Census Online links to Cornwall online census records including straying ancestors of the UK and including a link to the Story Of The Workhouse
Genuki Cornwall very useful UK and Ireland genealogy site, also 1881 census search. Cornwall Genealogy Cornwall Online's genealogy pages. Data files for you to download. Cornwall online parish clerks are volunteers who collect, collate and transcribe records for a chosen specific parish in Cornwall, the emphasis is on genealogy. St. Austell genealogy and historical website
Cornwall Inscriptions Project transcriptions, location maps, photos and anything to do with Memorial Inscriptions. Also Cornish cousins and associated resources and research. See Cornish cemeteries. Cornish War Memorials
UK Genealogy Cornwall site has parish locator, registration offices and mailing lists. Cornish Forefather Society family history research society. Cornwall Genweb genealogy, history and families of Cornwal. Cornwall Family History Society was formed in 1976 to assist members in tracing their family history. The Cornwall Record Office in Truro. The Parish Chest online family history store. West Penwith resourses a historical resources web site. St Keverne local history society this site may be useful for people tracing their family history as well as those with a more general interest
Richard Lander explorer who was born in Truro in 1804. Richard lander and his brother John were the first Europeans to canoe down the lower Niger River in West Africa. He was awarded the first gold medal of the royal geographical society in 1832. A statue of Richard Lander stands on a tall column at the top of Lemon Street in Truro sculpted by Neville Northey Burnard born in 1818 in Altarnun. Two descendants of Richard Lander are to join an expedition to retrace his historic journey down an African river. Richard Lander 200th Anniversary Expedition team will visit Truro
William Murdoch lived in Redruth and is best known for inventing domestic gas lighting. In Murdoch House Redruth, William pioneered the first practical system of piped-gas lighting anywhere in the world. Now in the ownership of the Society of Friends Trust. view photos of Murdoch Day Parade Redruth. Murdoch day 2007
Samuel Wallis born in 1728 at Lanteglos-by-Camelford parish. Samuel Wallis served under Admiral Boscawen. He was given the command of H.M.S. Dolphin in 1766 to explore the Pacific. He found the islands of Tahiti and Easter island in 1767. A portrait of Mrs. Betty Wallis, wife of Samuel
jack clemo a poet and writer lived and was born in Cornwall in 1916. Just before his fifth birthday Jack suffered his first attack of blindnes. The Cornish poet Charles Causley called him a genius, and claimed him as one of his generation’s best landscape poets. He left school at the age of twelve and began to write at the end of his schooldays. In 1970 he was crowned 'Poet of the Clay' at the Gorseth and at the age of 65 he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Exeter. Jack Clemo died in 1994. The former cottage of internationally acclaimed Jack Clemo has been pulled down by a china clay company
Maria Branwell mother of the Brontes. Born in 1783 in Penzance she left in 1812 to marry the Reverend Patrick Bronte. Their famous children are Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte
Geoffrey Grigson poet and critic was born in 1905 in Pelynt Cornwall and died in 1985
W. S. Graham Scottish poet who spent most of his life in Cornwall and was friendly with the modernist painters of the St. Ives school
John Harris the Cornish poet who was a miner and worked underground from the age of 12 years old. Read some of John Harris's poems on Brycchan Carey's web site
William Lovett a chartist born in Newlyn in 1800 was a founder of The National Union Of The Working Classes in 1831. In the late 1830s Lovett emerged as a major leader of reform
Charles Causley the 'most unfashionable poet alive'. Born in 1917 in Launceston and winner of the Queen's gold medal for poetry. Cornish company Kneehigh Theatre perform a story loosely based on a poem by Charles Causley. Charles died on November 4 2003 and is buried in the St. Thomas Churchyard Launceston next to his mother's grave and 100yards from where he was born. watch a short video of Charles Causley. A Cornish group is trying to raise £200,000 to buy the home of Charles Causley. Diaries belonging to Charles Causley are being studied by academics at Exeter University
