List of people from Northampton

This is a list of people from Northampton, a town in the East Midlands region of England. The demonym of Northampton is Northamptonian. This list is arranged alphabetically by surname.

A

• Robert Adams (1917–1984), sculptor and designer, born in Far Cotton
• Will Alsop (born 1947), architect, designed the Sharp Centre for Design in Toronto and North Greenwich tube station, was born, raised, and studied for his foundation degree in the town^[1]
• William Alwyn (1905–1985), composer, conductor, and music teacher, was born in the town
• Toby Anstis (born 1968), TV and radio presenter
• Sir Malcolm Arnold (1921–2006), classical composer, was born in the town

B

Margaret Bonfield, first Cabinet Minister and one of the first three female MPs in the House of Commons

• George Baker (1781–1851), topographer and historian, was born in the town
• Bauhaus (1978–1983, 1998, 2005–2008), a gothic rock band, formed in Northampton
• Margaret Bondfield (1873–1953), Labour MP for Northampton in 1923, first female Cabinet minister in the UK and one of the first three female Labour MPs
• John de Bothby (c.1320–c.1382), former Lord Chancellor of Ireland, spent his last years as vicar of the church of The Holy Sepulchre
• Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973), 20th-century Anglo-Irish writer, lived in the town after her marriage
• Anne Bradstreet (c.1612–1672), a puritan poet later based in Massachusetts, born in Northampton
• Sir John Brown (1880-1958), Lt General, born in Northampton, architect and Territorial Army officer
• VV Brown (born 1983), recording artist, born in Northampton
• Alban Butler (1710–1773), Roman Catholic priest and hagiographer, born in the town

C

Samuel Cartwright

Statue of Francis Crick, Abington St, Northampton

• Dallas Campbell (born 1970), TV presenter, studied Drama and English at the University of Northampton between 1989–1992.^[2]
• Judy Carne (1939–2015) was born in the town
• Alan Carr (born 1976), comedian, grew up in Northampton and attended what is now Weston Favell Academy. His father Graham Carr managed Northampton Town FC.^[3]
• William George Carr (1901-1996), Executive Secretary of the National Education Association from 1952 - 1967
• Samuel Cartwright FRS FLS FGS (1789–10 June 1864) was a British dentist who did much to improve the profession
• Alan Civil (1929-1989), horn player Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia and BBC Symphony Orchestra
• John Clare (1793–1864), poet, was detained in Northampton County Lunatic Asylum, now St Andrew's Hospital, where he died
• Ben Cohen (born 1978), activist and former England rugby union international player who began his career with Northampton Saints in 1996.
• Richard Coles (born 1962), musician, journalist and openly gay Church of England priest, was born in Northampton and lives in the area.
• Maureen Colquhoun (born 1928), Labour MP for Northampton North in 1974 was the UK's first openly lesbian MP.
• Andrew Collins (born 1965), journalist and broadcaster, grew up in the town and wrote about it in his memoir Where Did It All Go Right?.
• Francis Crick (1916–2004), Nobel Prize winner, molecular biologist, biophysicist, neuroscientist. Noted as a co-discoverer of the structure of the DNA molecule in 1953 with James D. Watson, was born in the town. In December 2005, a public sculpture, Discovery by Lucy Glendinning, was erected in Abington Street as a memorial.^[4] See also: Francis Crick Institute
• Michael Crick (21 May 1958-) journalist, author, broadcaster. A founding member of the Channel 4 News Team in 1982
• Andy Crofts (Born 1977), musician, raised in Northampton. Lead singer of The Moons and bass player for artist Paul Weller.

D

• Jamie Delano (born 1954), writer of Hellblazer, 2020 Visions, World Without End, Cruel and Unusual, is a lifelong resident.
• The Departure (2004–2008), rock band, formed in Northampton.
• Delia Derbyshire (1937–2001), produced the original Doctor Who theme tune, spent her final years in the town.
• Frank Dickens FRS (1899–1986), biochemist best known for his work on the pentose phosphate pathway which produces NADPH, was born in the town
• Philip Doddridge (1702–1751), an English Nonconformist leader, educator, and hymnwriter, spent some of his years in the town.

F

• Marcia Falkender, Baroness Falkender (b. 7 Nov 1932), formerly Marcia Williams, private secretary to Prime Minister Harold Wilson, was educated at Northampton High School for Girls.
• Anne Fine (b. 7 Nov 1947), author of children's literature, notably Madame Doubtfire, attended Northampton High School for Girls.^[5]
• Pat Fish (born 1957), leader of The Jazz Butcher, was raised in Northampton.
• Lorna Fitzgerald (born 1996), an actress best known for playing Abi Branning in EastEnders.^[6]
• Errol Flynn (1909–1959), worked in the Repertory Theatre, now Royal Theatre, from 1933–34.
• Benjamin Franklin's family is from Ecton, east of Northampton.
• Alistair Fruish is an English, writer, novelist and filmmaker born and lives in Northampton.^[7]

G

• Violet Gibson (1876–1956), best known for trying to assassinate Benito Mussolini in 1926, spent the rest of her days in St Andrews Hospital and was buried in Kingsthorpe.
• Ray Gosling (1939–2013), journalist, author, broadcaster and gay rights activist, was educated at what is now Northampton School for Boys.

H

• Mark Haddon (born 1962), novelist and poet best known for his 2003 novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, was born in the town.
• Andy Hamilton (born 1974), Autumnwatch forager and author, was born and raised in Northampton.
• James Harrington (1611–1677), philosopher and author of The Commonwealth of Oceana, was born at nearby Upton Hall.
• "Whispering Bob Harris" (born 1946), radio presenter, was born in the town.
• James Hervey (1714–1758), 18th-century philosopher, was born in the town.
• Joan Hickson (1906–1998), played Miss Marple, was born in Kingsthorpe.
• Rebecca Hunter (born 1981), singer from pop group allSTARS*, was born in Northampton.

J

• Ruaridh Jackson (born 1988), plays rugby union for Glasgow Warriors and Scotland, was born in the town.
• Jerome K. Jerome (1859–1927), author of Three Men in a Boat and other works, died in Northampton.
• Lesley Joseph (born 1945), Birds of a Feather actress, grew up in the town.

K

• Ivan Kaye (born 1961), EastEnders and The Green Green Grass actor, was born in the town.

L

• Edmund Francis Law Notable 19th-century architect
• Clive Lewis (politician) (born 1971) Member of Parliament for Norwich South (UK Parliament constituency)
• Robert Llewellyn (born 1956), played Kryten from Red Dwarf, was born here and lived at 47 Booth Rise until the age of 13.^[8]

M

• Maps (born ), Northampton-based Mercury-nominated musician
• Medium 21 (1999–2004), alternative rock band, formed at Northampton College
• Tim Minchin (born 1975), comedian, actor and musician, was born in Northampton.
• Edgar Mobbs DSO (1882–1917), rugby union footballer played for and captained Northampton R.F.C. and England; Lieutenant Colonel, Northamptonshire Regiment, killed in action during the Third Battle of Ypres.
• Alan Moore (born 1953), writer of V for Vendetta, Watchmen, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Voice of the Fire, a fictionalised history of the town, is a lifelong resident. His 2016 novel Jerusalem is set in the town.
• James Morrison (born 1984), singer-songwriter, lived in the town for 18 months and went to Kingsthorpe Middle School.
• Peter Murphy (born 1957), singer from Bauhaus born in Northampton
• Pat McGrath MBE (born 1970), make-up artist.

N

Nanette Newman

• Henry Nelson, 7th Earl Nelson (1894-1972), was born here
• Nanette Newman (born 1934), actress and author, wife of Bryan Forbes was born here
• New Cassettes (formed 2005), indie rock band, formed in Northampton

O

• Des O'Connor (born 1932), television presenter and singer, evacuated to the town during World War II and briefly played for Northampton Town FC.

P

Perceval's statue at Northampton Guildhall

• Louise Pentland (born 1985), fashion and beauty vlogger, author, and internet personality, best known on YouTube as 'Sprinkleofglitter'
• Spencer Perceval (1762–1812), only MP for Northampton to have held office of Prime Minister and only Prime Minister to have been assassinated.
• Pickering Phipps (1827–1890), brewer, Mayor of Northampton (1860–1866) and Conservative MP for Northampton (1874–1880)
• Peter Purves (born 1939), former Blue Peter presenter & former weekend presenter BBC Radio Northampton; lived for a number of years at the old rectory in Cogenhoe

R

• Derek Redmond (born 1965), Olympic runner, was born and raised here and attended Roade Comprehensive School, now known as The Elizabeth Woodville School, where the sports hall is named after him.
• Edmund Rubbra (1901–1986), composer, was born in Semilong.

S

• Gian Sammarco (born 1970), actor who played Adrian Mole in The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾ and The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole, was born and resides in the town
• Norman Smiley (born 1965), professional wrestler, was born here
• Matt Smith (born 1982), played the Eleventh Doctor in Doctor Who, was born and raised in the town and attended Northampton School for Boys.^{[9][10][11][12][13]}
• Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales (1961–1997) is buried at Althorp, the country estate of Earl Spencer where Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer (born 1964) is her brother. In 1989, Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana made an official visit to Northampton where Diana was made an Honorary Freeman of the Borough.^[14] The Royal Pioneer Corps from the former Simpson Barracks at Wootton south of the town, stood guard of honour on the day.^[15] There is a bronze plaque in her memory on the outside of the Guildhall 1992 extension.
• Howard Stableford, former BBC Radio Northampton presenter, went on to present the BBC television series Tomorrow's World
• Lindsey Stagg (born 1970), child actress who played Pandora Braithwaite in The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾ and The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole, was born in Northampton
• Martin Stanford, presenter Sky News
• Charles ("C.T.") Studd (1860–1931), Victorian cricketer and pioneer missionary who played in the first Ashes test, was born in Spratton
• Graeme Swann (born 1979), cricketer, born in Northampton, played for Northamptonshire County Cricket Club from 1998–2004 before moving to Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. He also a former England player in all three formats of the game between 2000 and 2013.

T

• Faye Tozer (born 1975), singer from pop group Steps, was born in Northampton
• Walter Tull (1888–1918), Northampton Town FC player who became Britain's first black army officer in the First World War
• Sophie Turner (born 1996), known for playing Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones, was born in Northampton

U

• Michael Underwood (born 1975), TV presenter, lives in the town and attended what is now Weston Favell Academy.

W

• Joan Wake (1884–1974), born at Courteenhall, was a notable historian of Northamptonshire and had a major role in saving Delapre Abbey from destruction.
• Marc Warren (born 1967), played Danny Blue in the BBC's Hustle series, was born in Kingsthorpe.
• Lawrence Washington (1602–1653), rector, ancestor of the first US President George Washington, was born at Sulgrave Manor, 12 miles south-west of Northampton. Lawrence's great-grandfather, Lawrence Washington (c.1500–1583), who purchased Sulgrave Manor from Henry VIII, was Mayor of Northampton in 1532 and 1545
• Jo Whiley (born 1965), former BBC Radio 1 presenter, now presenting on BBC Radio 2, attended Campion School in Bugbrooke
• Robert Woodford (1606–1654) served as Steward of Northampton from 1635 onwards. He is best known as the author of an extensive diary that covers the period 1637–1641.
• Stuart Pearson Wright (born 1975), award-winning artist, born in Northampton, BP Portrait Award winner
• Alan Walker (born 1997), British-Norwegian DJ

Y

• Thom Yorke (born 1968), Radiohead lyricist and vocalist

References