Who am I?
1. I was born 9th June 1781 in Wylam, Northumberland. Neither of my parents could read or write, yet I managed to build the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, which opened in 1830.
George Stephenson.
2. I was born on 29th November 1898 in Belfast. I held academic positions at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities, yet I am best known for my fictional writing. I was a close friend of J. R. R. Tolkien and my most famous literary work is a series of seven fantasy novels.
C. S. Lewis
3. I was born at some time around the year 1450 within the Republic of Genoa, Italy. My father was a wool merchant and as our family desired to become rich through trade, I first went to sea aged 13, which was to be the first of many expeditions.
Christopher Columbus
4. I was born at some time between 1501 and 1507, the daughter of the 1st Earl of Wiltshire. I spent much of my childhood in Europe and was lady-in-waiting to Archduchess Margaret in the Netherlands. After marriage and the birth of my daughter, I was beheaded in May 1536.
Anne Boleyn
5. I was born on 4th April 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri and died in 2014. I published 36 books, including volumes of poetry and seven autobiographies. My most famous work is the first of these autobiographies, which tells the story of my traumatic childhood.
Maya Angelou
6. I was born in the year 356 and was a King of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. I conquered the Persian Empire and in addition to my title as King of Macedonia, I also became Pharaoh of Egypt, King of Persia and King of Asia.
Alexander the Great
7. I was born on January 17th 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts. I was an author, printer, politician, inventor, scientist, diplomat and civic activist as well as becoming the first Postmaster General of the United States and first president of the American Philosophical Society. I invented the lightning rod, bifocals and a stove bearing my name.
Benjamin Franklin
8. I was born in Salzburg in 1756 and I was baptised with the Christian name ‘Johannes’, although that is not how I came to be known in later years. I began my career at the age of 5 and performed before European royalty. I died at the age of 35, leaving behind my wife, Constanze and my two sons.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
9. I was born in Blantyre, south of Glasgow on 19th March 1813. I was employed in a cotton mill at the age of ten before studying at the Charing Cross Hospital Medical School. My father was a deeply religious Sunday school teacher and his influence was key in my decision to become a missionary.
David Livingstone
10. I was born on 4th June 1738 in London. I was the son of Frederick, Prince of Wales and Augusta of Saxe-Gotha. I became heir to the throne when my father died in 1751 and I succeeded the throne in 1760 after the death of my grandfather.
George III