Outstanding People of Great Britain/Видатні люди Великобританії

Great Britain made a great contribution to the science, literature, music and arts of the world. It gave mankind a lot of outstanding scientists, writers and poets, musicians and painters.

Thomas More, who lived in the 15th century was an outstanding humanist, scientist and statesman. His work “Utopia” brought him worldwide acknowledgement. Many prominent people were influenced by his ideas of a free democratic state described in “Utopia”.

William Shakespeare is one of the most famous writers in the world. His plays “Romeo and Juliet”, “Hamlet, Prince of Denmark”, “King Lear”, “Macbeth” were translated into almost every language and staged in every theatre. He described the characters and feelings, which can be called international and living forever.

Daniel Defoe, Robert Burns, Walter Scott, Charles Dickens, Lewis Carroll are only a few names well-known all over the world.

William Hogarth, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough, John Constable contributed to the world’s painting treasures.

Great Britain has also given the world many outstanding scientists. Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of penicillin was born in Scotland. He spent his working hours almost entirely in hospitals and laboratories. His discovery of penicillin did more to help suffering people than anything else for centuries. When he died in 1955 his old friend said: “… by his work he relieved more suffering than any other living man”.

Ernest Rutherford, a famous English physicist worked in the field of radioactivity. His brilliant researches established the existence and nature of radioactive transformations. He was one of the founders of the atomic theory of physics and creators of the first atomic model.

M. Faraday made his major discovery in the field of electricity — the electromagnetic induction. He also made several important observations on the conductivity of different materials. Enjoying world-wide popularity, Faraday remained a modest man, who rejected high titles.

All of them considered hard labour and love for mankind to be the main reason of their success.