From world renowned musicians to Soviet spies, Newcastle has been home to numerous internationally renowned figures. One of the most famous is the international singing sensation Sting.
Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, or Sting as he is more commonly known, was born in Wallsend in Newcastle upon Tyne. Prior to his solo career, he played the role of lead singer, bassist, and songwriter for the popular band The Police. Combining the two careers, Sting has sold over 100 million records, making him one of Newcastle’s most successful people.
Sting is also famous for his political activism, having sung alongside Bob Geldof on the Feed the World project and on Do They Know It’s Christmas? Most recently, Sting composed the Songs for Tibet album in an effort to support Tibet and the current Dalai Lama.
Although he may not share the same celebrity appeal as Sting, George Stephenson is another of the many celebrities to come from Newcastle. Born in Wylam, about nine miles from Newcastle, Stephenson is known as the father of railways.
Born into a poor family, Stephenson received no formal education and was often looked down on by his peers. Despite this, Stephenson continued his own studies, designing his first locomotive in 1814 and then, in 1825, opening the world’s first public steam locomotive railway.
One of the more unusual characters to come from Newcastle is Vilyam Genrikhovich Fisher or Rudolf Abel as he called himself. Born in 1903, Abel is a highly respected Soviet spy who was eventually captured by the FBI as a result of his intelligence work in the United States.
Abel began his work as a spy after joining the OGPU, the Soviet Government as it was then known, in 1927. In 1947 he entered the United States as a spy. Abel’s main role was to supervise the work of other spies and report the information back to headquarters. In 1957, Abel was arrested and sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Another notable person who was born in Newcastle and found prestige outside of the UK is Abhisit Vejjajiva, the current Prime Minister of Thailand. Having been the leader of the Democrat Patry since 2005, Vejjajiva was elected as the 27th Prime Minister of Thailand in late 2008.
During her role in politics, Vejjajiva has faced much criticism, particularly her attempts to control new media. Under Vejjajiva’s leadership, the Democratic Party made it a criminal offense to create any website that badmouthed the Thai monarchy.
Although currently based in Thailand, Abhisit Vejjajiva continues to have strong ties to Newcastle and is a lifelong fan of the city’s football team.
Newcastle has produced many figures of recognition, giving it a unique fame that attracts thousands of visitors each year. This, combined with a large number of flights to Newcastle and unique attractions throughout the city, makes it a high priority when exploring UK cities.