London As Inspiration – Famous Londoners Touched By Their City
Places inspire people in many different ways. London, warts and all, inspired several celebrated Londoners of yesteryear. One of whom was no less than Charles Dickens.
Iram MartinsAug 03, 20238146 Shares193964 Views
With the city of London as inspiration, famous Londoners from the past were able to create things that have remained important up to this day.
Several well-known Londoners have built a name for themselves by drawing inspiration from the city for their writings, artwork, and discoveries.
Even the unpleasant parts of the city and other not-so-nice aspects of London also served as inspirations. Go and read some of the novels of Charles Dickens and you’ll find out.
With London as inspiration, famous Londoners made the city more exciting and striking.
What Are London Citizens Called?
People from London in England (there’s a city also called London in the province of Ontario in Canada) are called Londoners.
With the city of London as inspiration, famous Londoners included the following:
(a) Charles Dickens (1812-1870)
A novelist, some of his notable works include “Oliver Twist” (1838), “David Copperfield” (1850), “A Tale of Two Cities” (1859), and “Great Expectations (1861).” All these novels mentioned different locations in London.
The Charles Dickens Museum at 48 Doughty Street, Holborn, in Camden, was originally his house.
(b) Emmeline Goulden-Pankhurst (1858- 1928)
A political activist, she fought for the voting rights of women and co-founded the Women's Social and Political Union.
To read about her works, visit The Women's Library inside the London School of Economics and Political Science in Houghton Street.
(c) Nicholas Hawksmoor (1661-1736)
An architect, he designed the west towers of the royal church Westminster Abbey and the Greenwich Hospital (1692-1869) among many other structures.
(d) William Hogarth (1697-1764)
A painter, he depicted 18th-century London through his artworks. His paintings show scenes from the district of Smithfield in central London as well as those in Covent Garden and Leicester Square.
(e) Sir Robert Peel (1788-1850)
A politician, he established London’s very first police squadron called Metropolitan Police. Its headquarters is now the popular Scotland Yard.
(f) Samuel Pepys (1633-1703)
A diarist and naval administrator, Pepys wrote about 17th-century London. People up to this day still buy his diaries.
The National Archives in Bessant Drive, Richmond, keeps the original copies.
(g) Richard “Dick” Whittington
Whittington, who died in 1423, worked as a mercer – someone who sells textile fabrics – and his main clients were members of the royal court.
More than that, he’s best remembered as a public figure. For four times he served as Lord Mayor of London between 1397 and 1420.
(h) Annie Wood-Besant (1847-1933)
A social reformer, she campaigned for birth control. She was friends with Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950).
(i) Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723)
An architect and astronomer, he designed the Anglican church St. Paul's Cathedral as well as several other churchesin London.
With London as inspiration, famous Londoners proved how much love they had for the city.
Why Is London Unique?
There are many things that make London unique, and one of them is how the city served as an inspiration to several famed Londoners.
Such inspiration resulted in priceless works of art, literary classics, and historic structures as well as to interest groups that gave rise to critical thinking and societal changes.
Taking a chance with London as inspiration, famous Londoners succeeded in making the city meaningful and historical.
Conclusion
With London as inspiration, famous Londoners simply made London famous, too.
The city’s popularity has endured all these centuries because of their works.
Having London as inspiration, famous Londoners collectively left a legacy to be appreciated from generations to generations.
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