#1Science & Medicine
Robert Brown
1773–1858British botanist (1773-1858), discoverer of the cell nucleus and of Brownian Motion (1773–1858)
67 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Famous people · Montrose, Angus
Scientists and doctors stand out among the 50 famous people born in Montrose
With articles in 67 languages, Robert Brown is the most widely known. 19 of them were born in the Victorian era, more than in any other period. Only 2 towns in Angus list more. Per 10,000 residents, the town has 44.5, close to the 30.7 of the typical Angus town.
Born here
50
notable people
Best known
Robert Brown
in 67 Wikipedia languages
First
1755
William Paterson
Youngest
1990
Caroline Heron
Most common field
Sports
14 people
What stands out about Montrose’s famous people
★ What stands out · Known for
What Montrose is known for
Set against the usual town, scientists and doctors come out 3.5 times as common.
The usual town: the share across everyone listed across UK towns. Tap a field to see its people.
The best known
Born in Montrose
Two of the three are scientists and doctors.
#1
#2Science & Medicine
Alexander Burnes
1805–1841British explorer and political officer in British India (1805-1841)
25 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
#3Military
William Paterson
1755–1810Scottish soldier and botanist in Tasmania (1755-1810)
14 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Through the years
When Montrose’s famous people were born
Count by decade and the 1900s come out on top, with 7 births.
SportsScience & MedicinePolitics & LawWriting & ArtsMilitaryMusicFaithFilm, TV & StageBusinessNotable
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
Everyone
Everyone else born in Montrose
Of the other 47, 14 are athletes.
Joseph Hume
1777–1855Scottish surgeon and Radical politician (1777-1855)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Michael Forsyth, Baron Forsyth of Drumlean
born 1954British politician and life peer (born 1954)
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
John Arbuthnott, 16th Viscount of Arbuthnott
1924–2012John Arbuthnott, KT CBE, DSC, 16th Viscount of Arbuthnott, Lord and Businessman (1924-2012)
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
John Strachan
1846–1922Scottish born Australian explorer and ships captain (1846 – 1922)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
William Lamb
1893–1951Sculptor and artist of the Scottish Renaissance (1893-1951)
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Elizabeth Ogilvie
born 1946British painter and environmental artist (born 1946)
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
Next door
Famous people from the towns next door
Arbroath leads the towns around it, with 72 names.
Questions about famous people from Montrose
Who is the most famous person from Montrose?
Robert Brown (British botanist (1773-1858), discoverer of the cell nucleus and of Brownian Motion (1773–1858)) is the best known by our measure: Wikipedia has an article about them in 67 languages. Next come Alexander Burnes and William Paterson.
How many famous people were born in Montrose?
50 people born in Montrose have an English Wikipedia article that confirms the town as their birthplace. Wikidata places 62 people here; the rest aren’t listed because their article names somewhere else, or no town.
What is Montrose known for?
Among its famous people, athletes: 14 of the 50. That is 28% of the town’s list, against 49% across UK towns.
Who is the earliest-born famous person from Montrose?
William Paterson, born in 1755. The youngest on the list was born in 1990.
Who counts as from Montrose?
People Wikidata records as born in a place inside Montrose’s locality (the NRS 2022 locality boundary), a hospital or district within it included, whose English Wikipedia article agrees. People who only lived here, adult performers and people known mainly for crimes aren’t listed.
Why is someone missing?
Their Wikidata birthplace may be a bigger area (“London”), another town, or missing, or their article may give no birthplace. We only list people both sources agree on; editing Wikidata or Wikipedia changes this page at the next refresh.
From Wikidata (CC0: birthplaces, descriptions, years, occupations) and English Wikipedia (each person’s article confirms the birthplace; linked, not quoted). Birthplaces are placed in the town by National Records of Scotland’s Census 2022 locality boundaries (Open Government Licence v3.0). Ranked by how many Wikipedia languages cover each person. Fields are read from Wikidata’s description and occupations. “The usual town”: everyone listed across UK towns. Portraits: each person’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (23)
- Robert Brown: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Alexander Burnes: William Brockedon, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- William Paterson: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- John McGovern: Christophe95, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Joseph Hume: John Whitehead Walton, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- John Wishart: AJWishart, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Michael Forsyth, Baron Forsyth of Drumlean: ©House of Lords / photography by Roger Harris, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- William FitzClarence, 2nd Earl of Munster: Leslie Ward, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- John Nichol: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Annot Robinson: unknown and not creditted, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- George Maxwell: Tom Glover (d. 1938), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Kenneth Strong: U.S. Army, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- George Paul Chalmers: George Paul Chalmers, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- James Burnes: Colesworthey Grant (died 1880), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- George W. Anson: Unknown photographer of theatrical potraits, possibly from Talma & Co in album c. 1870-1900 possibly compiled Gordon Ireland MS 6135 Collection State Library Victoria, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Helen Matthews: South West News Service, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Edward Baird: William Lamb, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- William Lamb: Neil Werninck, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Adam Norrie: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Harry Hampton: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- David Dunbar Buick: Unknown, possibly J. W. Hughes, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Robert Watson-Watt: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- James Beattie: Engraved by Ridley from a painting in the possession of James Beattie, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.