TN#1
Science & Medicine
Thomas Newcomen
1664–1729English inventor, ironmonger and Baptist lay preacher (1664-1729)
55 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Famous people · Dartmouth, Devon
Most of the 15 famous people born in Dartmouth came into the world in the Georgian era
Best known of all is Thomas Newcomen, written about in 55 languages. Behind the leader come Rachel Kempson and John Russell. For every 10,000 residents there are 28.5 on the list, well above the typical Devon town’s 4.7. Thomas Newcomen, born in 1664, is the earliest name and Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie, born in 1933, the latest.
Born here
15
notable people
Best known
Thomas Newcomen
in 55 Wikipedia languages
First
1664
Thomas Newcomen
Youngest
1933
Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie
Most common field
Military
3 people
What stands out about Dartmouth’s famous people
★ What stands out · Through the years
When Dartmouth’s famous people were born
The 1870s top the chart, with 2 births in the decade.
MilitaryScience & MedicineFilm, TV & StageSportsPolitics & LawNotableFaithWriting & ArtsBusiness
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
The best known
Born in Dartmouth
The three are covered in 55, 22 and 11 languages: Thomas Newcomen, Rachel Kempson and John Russell.
#2
#3Known for
What Dartmouth is known for
Soldiers and sailors stand out most, at 5.5 times the usual share.
The usual town: the share across everyone listed across UK towns. Tap a field to see its people.
Everyone
Everyone else born in Dartmouth
Another 12, 3 of them soldiers and sailors.
Theodore Veale
1892–1980British soldier (1892–1980); recipient of the Victoria Cross
MilitaryWikipedia ↗
William Cumming Henley
1860–1919Ironmonger, scientist, naturalist, artist, collector
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Henry Steers
1779–185219th-century American shipbuilder of English descent. Father of James and George Steers.
BusinessWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
Next door
Famous people from the towns next door
Close by, the fullest list is Torquay’s, at 117 names.
Questions about famous people from Dartmouth
Who is the most famous person from Dartmouth?
Thomas Newcomen (English inventor, ironmonger and Baptist lay preacher (1664-1729)) is the best known by our measure: Wikipedia has an article about them in 55 languages. Next come Rachel Kempson and John Russell.
How many famous people were born in Dartmouth?
15 people born in Dartmouth have an English Wikipedia article that confirms the town as their birthplace. Wikidata places 19 people here; the rest aren’t listed because their article names somewhere else, or no town.
What is Dartmouth known for?
Among its famous people, soldiers and sailors: 3 of the 15. That is 20% of the town’s list, against 4% across UK towns.
Who is the earliest-born famous person from Dartmouth?
Thomas Newcomen, born in 1664. The youngest on the list was born in 1933.
Who counts as from Dartmouth?
People Wikidata records as born in a place inside Dartmouth’s built-up area (the ONS 2022 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 the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary (Office for National Statistics, 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 (14)
- Rachel Kempson: Allan warren, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Russell: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- William Pascoe Crook: Unknown authorUnknown author; David Scott, photographer of print, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Stephen Bartlett Lakeman: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Theodore Veale: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Thomas Lipson: John Hood, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- C. J. Way: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- James John Hamlyn Moses: Agence Rol. Agence photographique (commanditaire), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Agatha Christie: Joop van Bilsen for Anefo, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Sue Barker: Flickr user Steve Punter, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ian Bryce: Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Steve Owsley, USN, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Giselle Ansley: fourthandfifteen, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Dan Gosling: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ingythewingy/, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Richard Peek: 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.