List of people from Stoke-on-Trent

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This is a list of notable people who were born in or near, or have been residents of the City of Stoke-on-Trent, England. Also listed are people who lived in the area before city status was granted in 1925.

Contents

The city was built on the pottery industry, and at the centre of that industry was the Wedgwood family, especially Josiah Wedgwood. Today he is credited with the industrialization of the manufacture of pottery, and is also remembered as a prominent opponent of slavery. Other giants of the pottery industry were Thomas Minton, William Moorcroft, and Josiah Spode.

Many notable residents of Stoke-on-Trent have gone on to achieve recognition in their own field. Legends of rock Slash and Lemmy spent portions of their childhood in the city, whilst Robbie Williams split from Take That to establish himself as a pop megastar in his own right. Local businessmen John Caudwell, Peter Coates, and John Madejski made large fortunes from founding Phones 4u, Bet365, and Auto Trader respectively. A new branch of Christianity in Primitive Methodism was formed from the endeavours of Hugh Bourne and William Clowes. In literature, Arnold Bennett was a prodigious novelist, and often drew on the local area for inspiration, particularly in his 1902 work Anna of the Five Towns . Another famous face is Captain Edward Smith, who went down with his ship, the Titanic, in 1912. In terms of military service, three recipients of the Victoria Cross were native to Stoke-on-Trent. R. J. Mitchell, inventor of the Spitfire aircraft, also came from the city. Sir Oliver Lodge was a pioneer in the field of radio communication and predated the work if Marconi. Later he established the Lodge Company making Spark Plugs.

In sporting achievements, local clubs Port Vale and Stoke City have helped to develop the talents of local footballers, and in turn local names such as Roy Sproson, Freddie Steele, and Denis Smith have provided the club's with many years of loyal service. However the most famous player to be associated with the area is Stanley Matthews – the only player to have been knighted while still playing, the Wizard of the Dribble was the inaugural winner of the Ballon d'Or. He played for Stoke and later managed Port Vale. Outside of football, the most significant individual sportsman to hail from the city is Phil Taylor, sixteen-time winner of the World Professional Darts Championship.

Academics and educators

Joe Andrew and wife Barbara Joe Andrew and wife Barbara.gif
Joe Andrew and wife Barbara

Artists and writers

Arnold Bennett, author of Anna of the Five Towns and The Card. Arnold Bennett - Project Gutenberg etext 13635.jpg
Arnold Bennett, author of Anna of the Five Towns and The Card .

Businesspeople

John Madejski was born in the city, though would later move to Reading. JohnMadejski2.jpg
John Madejski was born in the city, though would later move to Reading.

Entertainers and musicians

Born and raised in Burslem, Robbie Williams went on to sell over 57 million albums worldwide. Robbie Williams at Sunderland 2011a crop.jpg
Born and raised in Burslem, Robbie Williams went on to sell over 57 million albums worldwide.
Born in London, Slash spent the first few years of his life with his father and paternal grandparents in Stoke before the family moved to LA. Slash live in Rome by Paride.jpg
Born in London, Slash spent the first few years of his life with his father and paternal grandparents in Stoke before the family moved to LA.
Anthea Turner Anthea Turner.jpg
Anthea Turner

Inventors and scientists

Reginald Mitchell went to school in Hanley. Reginald Mitchell Spitfire designer.jpg
Reginald Mitchell went to school in Hanley.
Baskeyfield's memorial statue at Festival park. John Baskeyfield VC statue close.jpg
Baskeyfield's memorial statue at Festival park.

Military figures

Miscellaneous figures

Captain Edward Smith went down with his ship. EJ Smith.jpg
Captain Edward Smith went down with his ship.

Politicians

Potters

Josiah Wedgwood, founder of the Wedgwood company. JosiahWedgwood.jpeg
Josiah Wedgwood, founder of the Wedgwood company.

Religious figures

Hugh Bourne founded Primitive Methodism, which would be an influential branch of Christianity in his lifetime. Bourneh.jpg
Hugh Bourne founded Primitive Methodism, which would be an influential branch of Christianity in his lifetime.

Sportspeople

Combat sports

Cricketers

Cue sports

Cyclists

Darts players

Phil Taylor, widely considered the greatest darts player of all time, and one of the most successful individual sportsmen of all time. Philtaylor.jpg
Phil Taylor, widely considered the greatest darts player of all time, and one of the most successful individual sportsmen of all time.

Footballers

Goalkeeper Tom Baddeley won two England caps at the start of the twentieth century. Tom Baddeley.JPG
Goalkeeper Tom Baddeley won two England caps at the start of the twentieth century.
Werrington-born Adam Yates is a more recent example of a local professional footballer playing for a local club. Adam Yates3.JPG
Werrington-born Adam Yates is a more recent example of a local professional footballer playing for a local club.

Olympic medal winners

Sprinter Alexander Nelson. Alexander Nelson 2007.jpg
Sprinter Alexander Nelson.

Other sports

Racket sports

Rugby

Wrestling

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hanley</span> One of the Six Towns of Stoke-on-Trent, in Staffordshire, England

Hanley is one of the six towns that, along with Burslem, Longton, Fenton, Tunstall and Stoke-upon-Trent, amalgamated to form the City of Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire, England. The town is the main business, commercial and cultural hub of the wider Potteries area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fenton, Staffordshire</span> One of the Six Towns of Stoke-on-Trent, in Staffordshire, England

Fenton is one of the six towns that amalgamated with Hanley, Tunstall, Burslem, Longton and Stoke-upon-Trent to form the county borough of Stoke-on-Trent in 1910, later raised to city status in 1925. Fenton is often referred to as "the Forgotten Town", because it was omitted by local author, Arnold Bennett, from many of his works based in the area, including one of his most famous novels, Anna of the Five Towns.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cecil Wedgwood</span>

Major Cecil Wedgwood, DSO was a British soldier and partner in the Wedgwood pottery firm. He was the first Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penkhull</span> Human settlement in England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freddie Steele (footballer)</span> English footballer and manager

Frederick Charles Steele was an English professional footballer who played as a forward for Stoke City and England. He also had spells at Mansfield Town and Port Vale as a player-manager, leading Vale to a league title. He remains a legendary figure in the histories of both Stoke and Vale. His nephew is former England cricketer David Steele.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Potteries derby</span> Football rivalry in England

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References

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