Famous People Born In Derby

Herbert Spencer was the man behind the expression “survival of the fittest,” after reading Charles Darwin's iconic work On the Origin of Species. The British anthropologist, sociologist, and philosopher introduced the concept of Social Darwinism, which applied the theory of evolution to societies and social classes.

Alan Bates was an English actor who achieved popularity during the 1960s by playing important roles in films like Whistle Down the Wind and A Kind of Loving. The same decade, he also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of Yakov Shepsovitch Bok in the 1968 British drama film The Fixer.   

Usman Ahmed is a British former professional boxer. He was active from 2006 to 2016. Over his career, he participated in 19 major fights, out of which he won eight. In 2009, he competed for the British and Commonwealth flyweight titles. He gained notoriety when he once danced to the ring, only to be knocked unconscious by his opponent.  

John Tams is an English actor, musician, composer, singer, and songwriter. He is best known for portraying the role of Daniel Hagman in the television drama series Sharpe. As a musician, John Tams worked with Ashley Hutchings before forming a folk-rock group called Home Service in late 1980.

Molecular biologist Richard J. Roberts is best known for his Nobel Prize-winning research on split genes. The Harvard alumnus had wished to be a detective as a child but changed his mind after being gifted a chemistry set. He was also made a Fellow of the Royal Society and knighted.

One of the New Liberals of the late 19th century, economist John A. Hobson was also a Fabian Society member and advocated for socialism. He believed an inequitable distribution of income leads to underconsumption, which again leads to unemployment. He also wrote extensively on imperialism.

Sir William de Wiveleslie Abney was an English photographer, chemist, and astronomer. A pioneer of many technical facets of photography, Abney's work in the chemistry of photography led to developments in astronomy apart from producing useful photographic products. Sir William de Wiveleslie Abney also wrote several books on photography that went on to become standard texts at that time.

Deborah Bull, Baroness Bull is an English dancer, broadcaster, and writer. She is best known for her association with the Royal Opera House, where she was a former creative director. As a writer, Deborah Bull has contributed to popular publications like The Times, The Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph, and New Statesman.