Ian Bradley (28 May 1950–), academic, author, theologian, Church of Scotland minister, journalist and broadcaster.
Moved to Berkhamsted
G. M. Trevelyan (1876–1962), noted British historian, as a resident he took part in historical pageants in the town.[1]
Artists and Writers
Poet and hymn writer William Cowper (1731–1800), one of the most popular poets of his time, Cowper changed the direction of eighteenth century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scenes of the English countryside.
Novelist Graham Greene (1904–1991), whose father was headmaster of Berkhamsted School, which Greene attended. One of Greene's novels, The Human Factor, set there and mentions several places in the town, including Kings Road and Berkhamsted Common. In his autobiography, Greene wrote that he has been 'moulded in a special way through Berkhamsted'. Greene's life and works are celebrated annually during the last weekend in September with a festival organised by the Graham Greene Birthplace Trust.[2]
Richard Mabey (20 February 1941–), writer and broadcaster, chiefly on the relations between nature and culture
Kingsley Amis (1922-1995), English novelist, whose parents moved to Berkhamsted in 1940.
Maria Edgeworth (1 January 1768 – 22 May 1849), prolific Anglo-Irish writer, adult and realistic children's literature and was a significant figure in the evolution of the novel in Europe, lived at Edgeworth House in Berkhamsted as a child.
H. E. Todd (1908–1988) British writer of children's fiction, married and died in Berkhamsted.
Hilda van Stockum (9 February 1908 – 1 November 2006), Dutch born children's author and artist, also died in Berkhamsted.
Matt Whyman (1969–), novelist and advice columnist
Local Historians
Percy Birtchnell (1910–1986), local historian. His publications include "A History of Berkhamsted" and "Bygone Berkhamsted" both published by Clunberry.
World War I General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien (1858–1930) and his heroic naval officer brother Henry Theophilus Smith-Dorrien (1850–1935) who was “more or less responsible for the commencement of the Egyptian War” (1881).[11]
Augustus Smith (15 September 1804 – 31 July 1872) born in Berkhamsted, MP for Truro and governor of the Isles of Scilly, Augustus Smith stopped the enclosure of the Berkhamsted Common. "Possibly no-one ever connected with the town more merits such a recognition than the illustrious educationalist and public-spirited man ... Augustus Smith who restarted Berkhamsted School and was the leading founder of the first elementary school in the locality." West Herts and Watford Observer, 1908. Augustus Smith today is commemorated by the award of the Augustus Smith scholarship for state school students in Berkhamsted.
Albert Andrews (13 September 1881 – 25 October 1960) was a provincial politician, Alberta, Canada.
Frank Broome (1915–1994), professional footballer and manager
Jonathan Bond (19 May 1993), professional football goalkeeper
Others
Moved to Berkhamsted
Richard Scott, early settler of Providence in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Edmund Rice, early settler of Massachusetts Bay Colony
Peter the Wild Boy (c. 1713 – 22 February 1785), feral boy with learning difficulties and possible Pitt–Hopkins syndrome from Germany, who was original brought to England as a curiosity but later was cared for in Northchurch and Berkhamsted.[16]
Derek Simpson, Joint-General Secretary of the UK's biggest private-sector trade union, Unite, from 2007–2010, previously the General Secretary of Amicus from 2002–2007