Before you visit it, let’s look at these personalities to give you an idea of who’s resting at Westminster Abbey and explore some interesting facts.

Kings and Queens

Edward the Confessor

If we wanted to understand the origins of Westminster Abbey, we’d have to go back a thousand years and mention what Edward the Confessor achieved. Between 1042 and 1052, he began rebuilding St Peter’s Abbey to provide himself with a royal burial church – the first one in a Romanesque style. At the end of 1065, Edward consecrated the building a week before he died. In 1066, he was replaced by the Conqueror as William I came from France to win the kingdom from Harold, the last Saxon king of England.

Interesting fact? Since the coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066, all coronations of English and British monarchs have occurred in Westminster Abbey, as well as 16 weddings!

Queen Elizabeth I 

Let’s start with the Lady Chapel, where some of the Queens of England are resting, as Elizabeth I. Referred to as the Virgin Queen, she was Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 until she died in 1603. Daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I was the last of the five Tudor monarchs. 

Did you know? Her father, Henry VIII, declared her to be illegitimate, and she only returned to the line of succession under the king’s Third Succession Act in 1543.

Mary, Queen of Scots

Another Queen buried at the Lady Chapel is Mary, Queen of Scots. Known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, she was Queen of Scotland from 1542 until her abdication in 1567. Mary was six days old when her father died, and she inherited the throne. As an adult, she became the first woman to rule Scotland in her own right. 

Did you know? She was married to the King of France, who gave her the title of Queen Consort of France for a short time from 1559 to 1560.

Anne of Cleves 

Originally from Germany, Anne of Cleves was Queen of England in 1540 as Henry VIII’s fourth wife. Henry married Anne because he needed to form a political alliance with her brother, William, Duke of Cleves, who was a leader of the Protestants of western Germany. 

Did you know? After six months of marriage, Henry, eager to replace Anne with Catherine Howard, had their union annulled.

George II

Amongst the Kings of England, George II lies next to his wife, Caroline of Ansbach and near Mary, Queen of Scots, at the abbey. He was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1727 until he died in 1760. It was only then that British monarchs were buried at Windsor Castle. 

Interesting fact? When George II passed away and was buried at Westminster Abbey, the coffin between Caroline and his was removed to let their remains mingle.

Politicians

Martin Luther King Jr

Born in 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister and social activist. From 1955 until his assassination in 1968, he led a nonviolent campaign for racial justice during the civil rights movement. His contributions to American democracy make him one of our times’ most influential figures. A statue of him was unveiled in 1998 and stands above the west entrance to the abbey.

Did you know? King helped pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

William Wilberforce 

Born in 1759 in Yorkshire, William Wilberforce was a British politician, philanthropist and strong leader in abolishing slavery. He began his political career in 1780 and later became an independent Member of Parliament for Yorkshire. 

Did you know? He fought for more than twenty years to abolish the slave trade, but it took another twenty years for slavery to end for good.

Sir Winston Churchill

Born in 1874, Winston Churchill was a statesman, writer, orator and leader who led Britain to victory in World War II. He was famous for his inspiring speeches and stubbornness, even when things were terrible. You can visit Churchill War Rooms in London and explore the underground network that protected the staff and secrets of the British government.

Did you know? Churchill was elected Prime Minister twice: from 1940 to 1945 before being defeated in the 1945 general election by the Labour leader Clement Attlee; and from 1951 to 1955.

Scientists

Sir Isaac Newton

Born in 1643, Sir Isaac Newton PRS was one of the greatest mathematicians and physicists and undoubtedly one of the most influential scientists. He was known for having invented calculus and formulated the theory of universal gravity. 

Did you know? Newton died at age 84 – of mercury poisoning – which was very old for the time. In Westminster Abbey, he rests next to other scientists like Charles Darwin. 

Charles Darwin 

Born in 1809, Charles Darwin was known for his theory of evolution and his tremendous research work around natural selection. Darwin waited over 20 years to publish his findings until another scientist published similar works. 

Fun fact? He made a pros and cons list of whether to marry or not!

Writers

Jane Austen

Born in 1775, Jane Austen was an English writer who knew cleverly how to treat ordinary people in everyday life. Notable books she published were Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, and Emma. 

Did you know? She wasn’t named the author of her novels until after her death, as she published most of them anonymously, mostly because she remained single her entire life.

The Brontë sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne

Born in Yorkshire in the 19th century, the three sisters began writing stories early and later worked as teachers or governesses. In 1846, they published their first volume of poetry under pseudonyms and then published novels with varying levels of success. The notable books are Agnes Grey, Jane Eyre, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, and Wuthering Heights.

Charles Dickens

Born in 1812 in Portsmouth, Dickens was an English writer, social critic, and indeed the greatest novelist of the Victorian era, who created some world-famous fictional characters. Popular reads include Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, and even Bleak House. 

Interesting fact? At the time of his passing, the public demanded that Westminster Abbey was the only place to bury someone of his distinction. 

Poets

William Blake

Now, let’s move to the poet’s corner of the abbey. Aside from being a painter and an engraver, William Blake was also a poet whose work was only recognised later in his life. Blake is one of the most influential figures in the history of poetry and one of the greatest artists in Britain. His most famous poems are The Tyger, one of the most popular poems in the English language and Songs of Innocence and Experience. 

Did you know? The Romantic Movement profoundly influenced him with a focus on emotion and intuition and the ideals of the French and American Revolutions can also be seen in his work. 

Robert Burns

Born in 1759 and known as the national poet of Scotland, Robert Burns wrote some of the most famous Scottish poems of all time, focusing on universal themes of love and nature. Notable poems were Auld Lang Syne, Address to a Haggis, A Red Red Rose, and many more. 

Interesting fact? There are about twenty Burns memorials around the country in Scotland, from Aberdeen to his final resting place in Dumfries to follow his journey from Ayrshire to Auld Lang Syne.

Musicians

Jenny Lind

Born in 1820 in Sweden, Johanna Maria “Jenny” Lind was a Swedish opera singer, also known as the “Swedish Nightingale”. She was one of the most extraordinary singers of the 19th century, as she performed in soprano roles in opera in Sweden and across Europe, and in 1850 gave a series of concerts in the US. 

Did you know? Jenny Lind was 10 when she began performing on stage. Her first significant role was in 1838 for the Royal Swedish Opera.