Webb, Matthew. 1848-83. English. First to swim across English Channel, 1875.

Wedgwood, Josiah. 1730-95. English potter, developed new style, 1763. Automation, 1769, begins Industrial Revolution.

Wellington, Duke of. 1769-1852. English general, victor at Waterloo. Prime Minister 1828-30.

Wells, H. G. 1866-1946. English Science Fiction fantasy and social novelist. Time Machine 1895; War of the Worlds 1898.

Wendover, Roger of. English historian. Flores Historiarum 1235 recorded Godiva’s ride.

Wesley, John. 1703-91. English founder of Methodism 1729. Direct preaching, often outdoors, to reach the uneducated working class. Sunday schools.

West, Benjamin. 1738-1820. US/English historical painter. Death of General Wolfe 1771.

Wheatstone, Charles. 1802-75. English physicist: microphone. Telegraph 1836. Resistance bridge 1843. Concertina 1829. Stereoscope.

Whitefield, George. 1714-70. English evangelist, founder of Calvinistic Methodist Church. Stimulated 18C religious revival.

Whitehead, Alfred. 1861-1947. English mathematician/philosopher. Metaphysical theory of reality. With Russell wrote Principia Mathematica 1913. Process and Reality 1929.

Whymper, Edward. 1840-1911. English climber. First to climb Matterhorn, 1865.

Wilberforce, William. 1759-1833. English campaigner vs slave trade.

Wilkes, John. 1725-97. English journalist, MP, rake. Free press champion. Essays on Women 1764. Expelled and reelected MP.

Wilkie, David. 1785-1841. English portrait painter.

Williams, George. 1821-1905. English founder of YMCA.

Williams, Roger. c1603-83. English Calvinist founder of Rhode Island, Providence 1636. Introduced separation of church, state.

Winthrop, John. 1588-1649. English Governor of Massachussets Bay Colony 1629~48 as Theocracy.

Wittgenstein, Ludwig. 1889-1951. Austrian/English linguistic philosopher: Philosophical Investigations 1953. Logical Positivism 1921.

Wodehouse, P.G. 1881-1975. English humorist. Jeeves 1917.

Wollstonecraft, Mary. 1759-97. English feminist author. Vindication of the Rights of Women 1792. Mother of Mary W Shelley.

Wolsey, Thomas. c1475-1530. English cardinal. Lord Chancellor to Henry VIII. Lost influence when unable to secure divorce from Catherine of Aragon. Built Hampton Court Palace as gift for Henry VIII. Unpopularity a cause of Reformation.

Wood, John. 1704-54. English Palladian architect: Royal Crescent, Bath 1767.

Woolf, Virginia. 1882-1941. English psychological stream of consciousness writer. Captured transience and subtlety of thought. Bloomsbury Group. Mrs Dalloway 1925. To the Lighthouse 1927. Waves 1931.

Woolley, Leonard. 1880-1960. English archeologist. Excavated Ur. Found evidence of Great Flood.

Worcester, Battle. 1651. Cromwell defeats Royalists. Last revolt after English Civil War.

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