Portal:London/Biography/Vote

VOTE for the Showcase Biography of the London Portal for May 2009:

'''If nominating a new article, please add PL showcase biography to the said article's talk page. '''

Nominations should be of individuals born in London, or who have significantly contributed to the life and development of London as a City. This influence could be structural, political, cultural, or historical - to suggest a few.

N.B. The showcase biography for the London Portal does not have to be a Wikipedia featured article. For a list of London-related featured articles, click here.

''Any unobjected nominees for a given month will automatically be entered for the next month. ''

Example 1
(Reason) - (Signed)


 * Support - (reason) - (signed)
 * Oppose - (reason) - (signed)

etc.

Mellitus
The first Bishop of London, and one of the few Londoners to achieve sainthood. Naturally enough, hounded out of London by angry pagans and never allowed back. – iride scent   13:04, 21 March 2009 (UTC)
 * Support Good connection, featured article. Hekerui (talk) 15:58, 19 April 2010 (UTC)

Karl Marx
Not born in London, but his best work was done in the reading room of the British Library; and his influence has been worldwide. Kbthompson (talk) 16:05, 21 March 2009 (UTC)

Herbert Beerbohm Tree
Born in London, founder of RADA, manager of the Haymarket and Her Majesty's theatres. Notable for productions with spectacular scenery, sets and effects. Kbthompson (talk) 16:05, 21 March 2009 (UTC)

Winston Churchill
Harrow boy; member of parliament for Epping and Woodford. Should be a few London links there ... Sprawling article, to be expected really ... I think London contains more statues of Churchill than of any other. Oh, and blew up half of Stepney with few complaints ... could be paired with Siege of Sidney Street. Kbthompson (talk) 16:05, 21 March 2009 (UTC)

Joseph Bazalgette
His memorial is, eh, below us ... Enfield boy, blue plaque in St John's Wood; statue on the embankment. Buried in Morden. Kbthompson (talk) 16:05, 21 March 2009 (UTC)
 * Support Very good candidate. Without his sewerage system, London would have collapsed in diseased squalor and not have become the modern city it is. Actually, he's buried at St Mary's Church, Wimbledon. --DavidCane (talk) 17:16, 22 March 2009 (UTC)

Marie Lloyd
Born, performed and died in London. An exceptional entertainer. Kbthompson (talk) 16:28, 21 March 2009 (UTC)

Michael Caine
Someone who really couldn't be from anywhere else. Along with Ray Winstone, the definitive "London" actor. –  iride scent 17:24, 21 March 2009 (UTC)

Michael Portillo
OK, he was born over the border into Herts – but went to school in Harrow, lives in London, and was MP for two London constituencies – and became the living symbol of the social change that swept across London in the late 1990s. –  iride scent 17:24, 21 March 2009 (UTC)
 * Surely, this one's a bit too post-ironic? Diane Abbott might be a better bet, as first black woman elected to parliament; and alone for ten years until joined (briefly) by Oona King. In 2008, she was named one of the 100 powerful black Britons, by the Guardian - and she was born in Paddington; and managed to stay in parliament. I'm trying hard to think of any specifically London contribution by Portillo. Norman Tebbit is probably a representative tory (of the middle-orders); born Ponders End, educated Edmonton - represented the Churchill constituencies and was instrumental in abolishing ILEA - although whether that was a help, or a hindrance to London is debatable. Kbthompson (talk) 18:49, 21 March 2009 (UTC)
 * I'd say Portillo's better known than either – nobody who doesn't live in Hackney or watch TV at midnight would have any reason to have heard of Abbott (whose article is in a sorry state in any event), while King is from Yorkshire and just happened to represent a London seat. On going through current politicians (I thought we should have at least one on the list, if only as a reminder that history doesn't stop in 1945) there don't seem to be many with strong London connections and good-quality Wikipedia articles. How about Boris or Ken? (Are those really the best two pictures we can find of those two? They both look like they spent the night in a skip.) –  iride scent  18:59, 21 March 2009 (UTC)
 * Either of those should be in at some time; Ken's probably the more important of the two - having been head of two London authorities and in office for ten years; and an MP for a London constituency. Both articles are a bit scrappy - although Ken's statement after July 2007 looks a shoo-in quote to accompany the July 2007 article. Kbthompson (talk) 19:15, 21 March 2009 (UTC)

Rio Ferdinand
While some might think Chingford's Finest would be a more appropriate current footballer to have, he's got no particular connection to London other than being born here, and left at age 13. Rio F was Peckham born-and-bred and still has strong links to the area. Besides, this is one of the better-written football bios. –  iride scent 17:24, 21 March 2009 (UTC)
 * Could also make an argument for David Beckham...  DJR  ( T ) 12:34, 23 March 2009 (UTC)
 * Look up ↑ – I'd oppose Beckham for the reason already given ("He's got no particular connection to London other than being born here, and left at age 13). –  iride scent 14:42, 23 March 2009 (UTC)
 * Ah. That explains who Chingford's Finest is...  DJR  ( T ) 20:20, 23 March 2009 (UTC)

Kate Moss or Naomi Campbell
Two of Croydon's offerings to the world, and on a skim through the current list the deep-southern boroughs are underrepresented. Naomi's article seems marginally better at the time of writing. –  iride scent 17:24, 21 March 2009 (UTC)

Emma Clarke
London Underground Train Announcer. Simply south (talk) 14:44, 15 October 2009 (UTC)

Proposed timetable

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