Author Topic: BBC - Greatest ever Briton (Read 1394 times)

Pei · « **Reply #15 on:** August 10, 2003, 06:08:58 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Frogm4n
diana is on that list? wtf? her greatest sacrifice was sleeping with prince charles. jeez you brits need to get over her. take more pride in elizibeth hurley.

I couldn't agree more.

Animal · « **Reply #16 on:** August 10, 2003, 06:17:21 PM »

Cornwallace

Furball · « **Reply #17 on:** August 10, 2003, 06:25:10 PM »

i think most brits agree that diana should not be on that list.

funkedup · « **Reply #18 on:** August 10, 2003, 06:33:04 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Animal
Cornwallace

Sir Cornholio

Holden McGroin · « **Reply #19 on:** August 10, 2003, 06:54:47 PM »

My favourite (British spelling) Briton is (was) John Harrison, the clockmaker.

Harrison built the first useful chronometer for solving the problem of longitude. In doing so, a carpenters son from Lincolnshire proved Newton to be a pompous prettythang.

ra · « **Reply #20 on:** August 10, 2003, 06:59:06 PM »

Benny Hill.

mietla · « **Reply #21 on:** August 10, 2003, 07:18:51 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Holden McGroin
My favourite (British spelling) Briton is (was) John Harrison, the clockmaker.

Harrison built the first useful chronometer for solving the problem of longitude. In doing so, a carpenters son from Lincolnshire proved Newton to be a pompous prettythang.

Now you are talking. He has built at least four iterations. If I remember correctly, the fourth one was it.

Diana and Lennon.. yeah, right...

BTW, Newton was no doubt pompous, but he wasn't prettythang be no means. He actually gave credit to the "giants" before him.

Sure, he had a couple of feuds (Hooke and Leibnitz come to mind), but hey, "it ain't bragging if you can do it". Corpuscular theory of light seems to support this.

Curval · « **Reply #22 on:** August 10, 2003, 07:28:44 PM »

Cromwell was a religious nutter in my opinion. Sure glad I didn't live in England when his bunch ruled.

Holden McGroin · « **Reply #23 on:** August 10, 2003, 07:35:55 PM »

While I (of course) admire Newton's intellect, he did not seem to have an open mind once his reputation was established. It seems he left science behind in his later years, and let politics rule.

At least that is what seemed to be the case in the longitude problem, and the Leibnitz feud seems to back this up. Looks like reputation and credit became more important than moving the wagon on down the road, no matter who's pulling.

Thrawn · « **Reply #24 on:** August 10, 2003, 11:29:19 PM »

Elizabeth I

"When she ascended the throne in 1558, England was an impoverished country torn apart by religious squabbles. When she died at Richmond Palace on the 24th March 1603, England was one of the most powerful and prosperous countries in the world."

Plus, defeating the Spanish Armada.

I can't believe no one has mentioned her.

http://www.elizabethi.org/

Frogm4n · « **Reply #25 on:** August 11, 2003, 12:21:13 AM »

When it comes to england i think they have had to many great people in their past to proclaim one over the other. Just go to Westminster abby and see the people entombed in that place.

well i guess benny hill shines the brightest

funkedup · « **Reply #26 on:** August 11, 2003, 01:48:04 AM »

eskimo2 · « **Reply #27 on:** August 11, 2003, 01:52:06 AM »

Churhill

bigsky · « **Reply #28 on:** August 11, 2003, 02:00:46 AM »

its got to be lord nelson, i like chuchill but but nelson did his own speaches. if he did any. nelson was a real leader in the sence that direct orders are just general guidlines to follow. stupidity is something that should be ignored. i hope mr. rumsfeld is reading this.

Dowding · « **Reply #29 on:** August 11, 2003, 03:28:46 AM »

I can't come up with a single choice. These rate highly:

Elizabeth I
Lord Nelson
Sir Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington
Sir Winston Churchill
Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Diana is just a symptom of the Diana-hysteria which seems to afflict mainly British women. Lennon wrote some good music but hardly had the impact the others had.