Writers in London
The atlas holds 68 people and 315 moments here, from 1374 to 2015. The most recorded lives are Charles Dickens, John Milton and Freddie Mercury.
Notable people
Adam Smith
from 1764 to 1777
5 moments here
Scottish moral philosopher and political economist of the Scottish Enlightenment, author of The Theory of Moral Sentiments and An Inquiry into the…
Agatha Christie
from 1918 to 1941
4 moments here
English novelist, playwright, and memoirist, internationally known for detective fiction featuring Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.…
Albert Einstein
from 1921 to 1933
2 moments here
German-born theoretical physicist who transformed modern physics through special and general relativity, foundational work on quantum theory, and…
Arthur Schopenhauer
in 1803
1 moment here
German philosopher and writer, born in Danzig and dead in Frankfurt am Main. His documented movements included childhood residences in Hamburg and Le…
Benjamin Franklin
from 1724 to 1764
3 moments here
American printer, scientist, civic leader, colonial agent, revolutionary statesman, and diplomat.…
Carrie Fisher
from 1973 to 2015
2 moments here
Carrie Frances Fisher was an American actress, writer, and public advocate, internationally known for playing Princess Leia in the Star Wars films.…
Charles Darwin
from 1829 to 1882
8 moments here
English naturalist, geologist, and biologist whose observations during the global voyage of HMS Beagle and subsequent research led to his theory of…
Charles de Gaulle
from 1940 to 1944
4 moments here
French army officer, leader of Free France during the Second World War, head of France's Provisional Government, and president of the French Fifth…
Charles Dickens
from 1815 to 1870
18 moments here
English novelist, journalist, editor, social reformer, actor and celebrated public reader. This chronology traces documented residences, workplaces,…
Charlie Chaplin
from 1889 to 1975
11 moments here
English actor, comedian, director, writer, producer and composer whose screen persona, the Tramp, became an international icon.…
Daniel Defoe
from 1660 to 1731
12 moments here
English merchant, political writer, journalist, intelligence agent, and novelist. This chronology records documented physical presences from his…
Desiderius Erasmus
from 1505 to 1510
2 moments here
Dutch Renaissance humanist, Catholic priest, theologian, editor, and author. Erasmus was born in the Burgundian Netherlands, educated in the Low…
Doris Lessing
from 1949 to 2013
5 moments here
British novelist Doris May Lessing was born in Kermanshah, Iran, grew up in Southern Rhodesia, and moved to London in 1949.…
Douglas Adams
from 1952 to 1994
5 moments here
English author, screenwriter and humourist best known for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.…
Dwight D. Eisenhower
in 1942
2 moments here
Dwight D. Eisenhower was a United States Army officer, Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during World War II, and the 34th president of the United…
Edgar Allan Poe
from 1816 to 1817
2 moments here
American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic whose work helped shape Gothic fiction, detective fiction, and early science fiction.…
Ernest Hemingway
in 1944
1 moment here
American novelist, short-story writer, and journalist. Hemingway’s documented movements ranged from Illinois and Michigan to Italy in World War I,…
Francis Bacon
from 1561 to 1626
8 moments here
English philosopher, lawyer, statesman, Attorney General, and Lord Chancellor under James I.…
Freddie Mercury
from 1964 to 1991
14 moments here
Freddie Mercury (Farrokh Bulsara) was a British singer, songwriter, pianist, and lead vocalist of Queen.…
Friedrich Engels
from 1843 to 1895
8 moments here
German philosopher, political theorist, revolutionary socialist, businessman, and Karl Marx’s lifelong collaborator.…
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
in 1862
1 moment here
Russian novelist, journalist, essayist, and former military engineer whose life moved between Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Siberian imprisonment and…
Gabriel García Márquez
in 1957
1 moment here
Colombian novelist, journalist, screenwriter, and Nobel laureate whose life moved between Colombia, Europe, Cuba, the United States, Mexico, and…
Geoffrey Chaucer
from 1374 to 1400
6 moments here
English poet, courtier, diplomat, and civil servant, best known for The Canterbury Tales. His documented career included military service in France,…
George Orwell
from 1927 to 1950
13 moments here
George Orwell was the pen name of Eric Arthur Blair, an English novelist, essayist, journalist, critic, and democratic socialist.…
Moments
- 1374 Residence above Aldgate Geoffrey Chaucer
- 1386 Member of the Wonderful Parliament Geoffrey Chaucer
- 1390 Robbed at Hatcham Geoffrey Chaucer
- 1390 Robbed at Westminster Geoffrey Chaucer
- 1399 Residence in the Westminster Abbey close Geoffrey Chaucer
- 1400 Death in London Geoffrey Chaucer
- 1478 Birth in the City of London Thomas More
- 1494 Legal training at New Inn Thomas More
- 1496 Student at Lincoln's Inn Thomas More
- 1503 Spiritual exercises at the London Charterhouse Thomas More
- 1505 Second stay in England Desiderius Erasmus
- 1505 Residence at the Old Barge Thomas More
- 1510 Arrival at Thomas More's house Desiderius Erasmus
- 1525 Move to Chelsea Thomas More
- 1534 Appearance before the succession-oath commission Thomas More
- 1534 Imprisonment in the Bell Tower Thomas More
- 1535 Execution at Tower Hill Thomas More
- 1535 Treason trial at Westminster Hall Thomas More
- 1561 Birth at York House Francis Bacon
- 1576 Admission to Gray's Inn Francis Bacon
- 1579 Residence for legal study Francis Bacon
- 1583 Residence at Castelnau's London house Giordano Bruno
- 1584 Ash Wednesday discussion at Whitehall Giordano Bruno
- 1592 Established on the London stage William Shakespeare
- 1594 Performs before Elizabeth I at Greenwich William Shakespeare
- 1597 Recorded as a St Helen's householder William Shakespeare
- 1598 Acts at the Curtain Theatre William Shakespeare
- 1599 Moves to Southwark William Shakespeare
- 1600 Essex hearing at York House Francis Bacon
- 1601 Counsel at the Essex treason trial Francis Bacon
- 1604 Lodges with the Mountjoy family William Shakespeare
- 1606 Marriage to Alice Barnham Francis Bacon
- 1608 Installed among the Blackfriars players William Shakespeare
- 1608 Birth on Bread Street John Milton
- 1611 Continues visiting London after retirement William Shakespeare
- 1612 Gives evidence at Westminster William Shakespeare
- 1613 Signs the Blackfriars transaction in London William Shakespeare
- 1614 Returns to London with John Hall William Shakespeare
- 1621 Imprisonment in the Tower Francis Bacon
- 1626 Home during Lent Term John Milton
- 1626 Death at Arundel House Francis Bacon
- 1632 Move to Hammersmith John Milton
- 1640 Aldersgate Street residence John Milton
- 1640 Lodgings at St Bride's Churchyard John Milton
- 1645 Barbican residence John Milton
- 1647 Westminster School education John Locke
- 1647 High Holborn residence John Milton
- 1649 Scotland Yard chambers John Milton
- 1649 Charing Cross residence John Milton
- 1651 Return to London and private life in Fetter Lane Thomas Hobbes