Born Welbeck Street. An unusual childhood: his father changed their name from Beach to create a fictional connection with the medieval Barons De la Beche of Aldworth. Inheriting a slave plantation he took the family to Jamaica in 1800 but died the next year. Henry and his mother were shipwrecked on their return to England. Henry entered a military college but was thrown out for encouraging revolt amongst the cadets.
Geologist. Had a long public and furious debate with Murchison concerning fossils in Devon, in which Murchison called him a "dirty dog". Founder of the British Geological Survey.
Died London.
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Sir Henry De la Beche
Commemorated ati
Other Subjects
Marcus Garvey
Pan-African nationalist leader. Born Marcus Mosiah Garvey in St Ann's Bay, Jamaica. He founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association in 1914 to foster worldwide black unity, and moved its hea...
Person, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Jamaica, USA
5 memorials
Sir Christopher Wren
Born East Knoyle, Wiltshire, died London. Designer of 54 London churches, of which 13 were destroyed in the Blitz. Part of one of his churches, St Antholin, has ended up in an unexpected location...
38 memorials
King James II
England's last Roman Catholic king, James II of England but James VII of Scotland. Born in St James's Palace and designated Duke of York until he ascended the throne in 1685 on the death of his bro...
6 memorials
Brixton nail bomb
The bomb which injured 48 people, was planted by neo-Nazi bomber David Copeland. Copeland, who was also responsible for the nail bomb attacks in Brick Lane (24 April) and at the Admiral Duncan pub...
2 memorials
Edward Owen Greening
Co-operative movement activist and social reformer. Born at Warrington, Lancashire. He joined the Anti-Slavery Society and was a supporter of the Northern cause in the American civil war. His invol...
1 memorial