What is Derby Famous For

Whether people are researching for a school project or just curious, a question that we get asked over and over again is “What is Derby famous for?” So to try and answer this, below is a bit of information about famous things in Derby starting with famous people from Derby or famous people with a strong connection to the city.

Derby is a renowned for all its highly talented and successful former and current residents. There are many examples of success stories from resilient and determined Derby men and women.

Famous People From Derby

Ellen MacArthur

Dame Ellen MacArthur, one of Derby’s most famous people from recent times, held the record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe in a yacht! Born on July 8^th, 1976 in Derbyshire, England, she fell in love with the boating sport at a very young age. She is highly renowned for her successful completion of the fastest solo voyage which took place on February 7, 2005 in only 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes 33 seconds. Phew!

Aside from racing, Ellen also entertained many on the television program Top Gear in their feature, Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car and an Ellen MacArthur centered episode on a show called Hyperdrive. MacArthur also published two autobiographies; one in 2002, ‘Taking on the World’ and another in 2010, ‘Full Circle’. Not only did she receive many awards, Ellen also set up the ‘Ellen MacArthur Cancer Foundation’ mainly focusing on disabled young cancer patients to regain their confidence. After retiring from her sailing career, she founded the ‘Ellen MacArthur Foundation’ to promote sustainability asking youngsters to redesign and rethink aspects of the future.

For more in-depth information see our full length article on Ellen MacArthur

Joseph Wright

Joseph Wright, was a well-known a hero of Derby who was named as “Wright of Derby” in his time. Wright was a famous landscape and portrait painter; he was acclaimed as “the first professional painter to express the spirit of the Industrial Revolution”. Joseph Wright was born on September 3^rd, 1734 in Derby, he moved to London soon after to begin his life as an artist but he passed away at his home in Derby on August 29^th, 1797.

Wright was very famous for a few of his individual pieces such as the Three Gentlemen observing the 'Gladiator' (1765), his A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery (1766), and an Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump (1768).  All of these hang in a place of honour and are exhibited in the National Gallery and Derby Museum and Derby Art Gallery.

His art was best described as being in the ‘enlightenment’ style and they were considered to have intriguing metaphorical meanings. To remember Wright, a replica of an orrery was created outside of his home in Derby.  In 2005 ‘The Joseph Wright Centre’ was also opened at a new flagship site based at Derby College, acknowledging Joseph Wright’s achievements.

Erasmus Darwin

An English physician, natural philosopher, physiologist, slave trade abolitionist, inventor and also a poet, Erasmus Darwin was born on December 12^th, 1731 in Nottingham, England. He moved to Lichfield and became a very successful physician for over fifty years before discovering several other occupations. These included his theories of evolution and invention.

Darwin moved to Derby in 1775 with his wife and soon after formed ‘the Lichfield Botanical Society’ showing his passion for science and plants. ‘Zoonomia’ was Darwin’s most important scientific work.  This seemed like a precursor to the modern theory of evolution which his grandson, Charles Darwin the naturalist would read and comment on in the future. Charles Darwin became a member of the ‘Lunar Society’ and he belonged to the ‘Derby Philosophical Society’ where he helped alleviate cancer in patients. Darwin also invented many other things but didn’t want to affect his standing as a doctor. Instead he motivated others to take over his creations such as a horizontal windmill and an artesian well. Charles Darwin suddenly died on April 18^th 1802 just north of Derby. He left a large family tree that would include some very famous people of modern day. 

Brian Clough

Although not born in Derby, Brian Clough had strong connections to the city which is famous for its football team, Derby County. Clough was a successful English footballer and football manager who was born in Middleborough, England on March 21^st 1935. He was a bright young man but he said he couldn’t care about studying hard because he favored sports. Clough is highly noted for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. After a knee injury in 1962, Brian retired from playing football and started his career, becoming the youngest manager in the league.

Despite winning the European Cup twice, Brian regarded his greatest achievement to be the record breaking unbeaten run his team set by winning 42 undefeated games of football. In 2003, Clough underwent a liver transplant and then retired.  Unfortunately, he died soon after of stomach cancer on September 20^th2004 in Derby. Over 14,000 people attended Brian Clough’s funeral and a statue was made to order to remember him. This is in his hometown of Middleborough.

Thomas Cook

Derby is also famous for being the birth place of Thomas Cook. Born on November 22, 1808, raised as a strict Baptist, Thomas Cook became a Baptist minister at the early age of 20. Cook lived in Melbourne, Derbyshire and got involved in the temperance movement very early in his life. In 1841, Cook held the first privately chartered excursion to the public. Thomas very quickly started his own excursion business using trains.  In 1845; Cook arranged his own group tours and planned his first excursion abroad four years later.  After tours to Switzerland, Italy, America, and Egypt, in 1863 Cook’s successes led others to start their own excursion businesses.

Thomas formed a business partnership with his son John Mason called ‘Thomas Cook and Son’. This intrepid father and son even held excursions whilst the Civil War was going on in 1865! However, conflicts between them and their other partner went on until finally John Cook advised his father to retire. So in 1879 Cook senior moved to Leicestershire and peacefully passed on, on July 18^th 1892 leaving his son and grandsons to take over his business.

Florence Nightingale

Perhaps one of the most famous people from Derby is Florence Nightingale. Although, not born in the city, she was brought up in Derby and as a result has become one of the iconic figures that Derby is famous for. An Anglican, Florence Nightingale was born on May 12th in 1820; she believed that God had called her to the profession of nursing. During the Crimean War Nightingale started nursing after seeing the horrendous wounds of the veterans. She was known as ‘the Lady with the Lamp’ because of how she used to make rounds at night with her lamp to treat her patients.

At the beginning of the 20th century, it was said that Florence Nightingale reduced the death rate from 42% to 2% either by making improvements in hygiene herself or with the aid of the Sanitary Commission.

The Nightingale School for Nurses had the first official nurses’ training program.  This opened in 1860 following Nightingale’s because she felt it was important for nurses to know how to treat wounds at home as well. In August 13^th, 1910, Nightingale died peacefully in Park Lane. Today you will find three statues dedicated to her around Derby.  The London Road Community Hospital has one, the Nightingale Macmillan Continuing Care Unit has another and the last statue is located in St Peter's Street.

Henry Royce

One of the organizations Derby is most famous for is Rolls-Royce. Today we’re all very familiar with the Rolls-Royce car, but the famous man behind it was Sir Henry Royce who was born on March 27^th, 1863 in Huntingdonshire, England. With the help of Charles Stewart Rolls; Royce, a car manufacturer, founded the Rolls-Royce Limited in 1904. By 1907, the company had already started winning awards for the reliability of their cars.

After the death of Rolls, Sir Henry carried on with the company and developed it more than ever in Derby, where a newer and larger factory was made and is still there until the present day. Sir Henry Royce died on April 22, 1933 and just the night before, he sketched a design of yet another famous car of today; the Bentley by Rolls-Royce Ltd. Today in his honor, there is a statue of Royce standing outside the company's HQ at Moor Lane, Derby.

Joe Davis

One of Derby’s most famous sportsmen is Joe Davis. A professional at snooker and billiards, Joe Davis born on April 15, 1901 from Derby won the Chesterfield Championship at the young age of 13 years!  By 18 years old, Davis became a professional billiards player and reached the World Professional Billiards Championship in 1926. Two years later Joe Davis finally became a world champion for three years in a row and then moved on to his interest of snooker. Even after World War II, in 1946 Davis made his 15^th consecutive win and held his title for 20 years straight.

To date, he has won more world championships than any other player.  He retired from the event following this victory making him the only undefeated player in the history of the world championships. On July 10, 1978 Davis died two months after collapsing while watching his brother play the 1978 World Championship, and today in his hometown; Derbyshire bears a plaque commemorating him.

Organizations Derby is Famous For

Rolls-Royce Derby

The Derby Branch focuses on the Rolls-Royce Company and all of the previous companies from the past. There are the world-wide Rolls-Royce and Bentley owners clubs, and the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts' Club in Britain. Its archives, housed with the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation, cover the whole history of the Rolls-Royce car and include the original company documentation. They have been placed there for safekeeping by the Bentley Motors Limited. There are many exhibits of all kinds of motors and engines from throughout history to the present day.

Rolls-Royce Derby Contact Info:

Address: Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust
Derby Branch
PO Box 31
Derby DE24 8BJ
England

Bombardier Derby

Derby Carriage and Wagon Works were built by the Midland Railway in Derby, England currently owned by Bombardier Transportation. Their first six-wheeled coach was built in 1855 and is now currently in the National Railway Museum.

There were new additions were continuously being made to the coaches and during World War II, Derby pioneered airplane wing production methods. By 1945 they produced over 4000 of them. In 2011, Hitachi came along and until then the only remaining specialist passenger rolling stock manufacturer in the UK was the Bombardier's Derby plant.

Bombardier Derby Contact Info:

Phone number: 01332 344 666

Address: Litchurch Lane 

Derby, England

Postcode: DE24 8AD

Toyota Derby

Today almost anyone can recognize the name Toyota instantly. Toyota founder, Kiichiro Toyoda created Toyota Motor Corporation in 1937 influenced by his father.  Starting off with only 20 automobiles, today there are over 4 million Toyota cars being manufactured of all types of such ranging from luxury to hybrids. Toyota was ranked number one on the Automakers Global, OICA in 2010. Toyota has spread all over the world and as result is one of the most successful companies in the world. Their HQ is located in Toyoda’s hometown of Toyota City, Japan.

Toyota Derby Contact Info:

Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd
Burnaston
Derbyshire, England
East Midlands
Postcode: DE1 9TA
Phone: 01332 282121

Denby Pottery Company

Located in Derby, this pottery company was founded on 1809 and mainly focused on producing items like bottles and jars. Soon after, the company started manufacturing bigger products such as tableware which are recognized as ‘Denbyware’. After the Midland Railway opened its branch in Ripley the company was able to benefit from its kitchenware transport links into the city and further afield. The Denby Pottery Company still continues today as they are an extremely innovative and forward thinking business.   The company doesn’t stay in the past but are always looking to use new materials and glass types to increase their brand name and build on their excellent reputation.

Denby Pottery Derby Contact Info:

Denby Retail Ltd
Denby
Derbyshire, England
Postcode: DE5 8NX

Phone: +44 (0)1773 740899

Fax: +44 (0)1773 570211

The Royal Crown Derby

As the name indicates, Royal Crown Derby Company is based in Derby. They have been creating beautiful and ornamental porcelain pottery ware now since 1750. However, for the first 130 years it was known first as Derby Porcelain and then Crown Derby; before adding the Royal title to its name in 1890.

The Royal Crown Derby is a company that makes porcelain in Derby, England.  The popular and much loved company is renowned for the quality of its bone china. Since about 1750 they have made beautiful ornamental items and table ware.  William Duesbury 1st and 2nd first came up with the idea of soft-porcelain vases.  After Duesbury passed away, he left his company to his son, but his son also passed away before completing the mission of the company.

The next owner was Michael Kean who couldn’t fulfill the task either and suffered many financial issues. Finally William Duesbury the 3rd took over the family business and succeeded in carrying on with the business. The company’s porcelain is highly renowned today and it fulfills its name of ‘royal’. The Royal Crown Derby Visitor Center features a museum of porcelain items, and offers tours of the factory, a gift shop and a restaurant.

Royal Crown Derby Contact Info:

The Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Company Ltd
194 Osmaston Road
Derby, England
Postcode:DE23 8JZ
Phone: 01332712800
Email: enquiries@royalcrownderby.co.uk