Sir Walter Raleigh.

One of the most notable of England's sons was Sir Walter Raleigh, military and naval commander, pioneer of colonization, author and hero. He was born at Hayes Barton, Devon, in 1552 and educated at Oriel College, Oxford. When a young man he served with the Hugenot Army in France, but in 1581, while attending the Court of Queen Elizabeth he became such a favourite with the Queen that he remained at Court for several years. In 1584 he was knighted, and in the same year he attempted the establishment of a colony on the east coast of North America, which, with a courtier's tact, he called, in honour of the Queen, “Virginia.” The introduction of potatoes and tobacco into Europe is attributed to Raleigh.

Committed to the Tower of London through Court intrigue, he was soon released, and immediately became interested in the Spanish story of a city called Manoa in South America of reputed fabulous wealth. He failed in his attempts to discover this city, but he brought back gold-bearing quartz.

In an expedition against Cadiz in 1596, he conducted his fleet with marked success.

Sir Walter was found guilty of conspiracy against James I. and again committed to the Tower, where he remained for 13 years. During this confinement he wrote a “History of the World.” As the price of his freedom Raleigh offered to disclose a gold mine of which he knew in South America. He was released, but before commencing this expedition, was especially instructed to avoid hostilities with the Spaniards. This proved to be impracticable. On arrival at the mouth of the Orinoco River Raleigh was so weak through fever that the inland expedition was placed under the command of Captain Keymis who failed to discover the gold mine. The failure of the Expedition, combined with the demands made by the Spanish ambassador regarding the burning of a Spanish village in South America led to Raleigh's execution in 1618.

Sir Christopher Wren.

Sir Christopher Wren, the most famous of British architects, was born in Wiltshire on 20th October, 1632. Being a very delicate child his father took charge of his early education. Afterwards he was sent to Westminster School and at fourteen years of age was entered at Oxford University where his genius for mathematics gained him much recognition. In 1653 he was elected Fellow of All Souls and took the degree of Master of Arts. In his twenty-fifth year he was made Professor of Astronomy in Gresham College, which position he resigned four years later to become Savilian Professor of Astronomy at Oxford. Wren's first public architectural work was commenced in 1663. This was the Sheldonian Theatre, the celebrated roof of which is eighty feet in length by seventy feet in breadth and is supported by neither arch nor pillar. His next important work was the erection of a new chapel for Pembroke College, Cambridge. In 1663 several Commissioners, Wren amongst them, were appointed by the King to make a survey of the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. page 39 Paul's, which, since the days of the Restoration, had been falling into disrepair. After the survey some four thousand pounds had been spent on its renovation when the structure was very seriously damaged in the great fire of 1666. In preparation for the work which was to make his name as an architect famous for all time, Wren visited France where he examined every building worthy of an architect's notice, and on his return to London was appointed Principal Architect for rebuilding the parish churches. In 1669 he was made Surveyor-General of the Royal Works, and of the repairs of St. Paul's. But it became evident to Wren that St. Paul's could not be satisfactorily repaired. It would have to be entirely rebuilt. He accordingly submitted to the King several plans of which His Majesty selected one, and instructions were issued for commencing the work on 14th May, 1675. The first stone of the great Cathedral was laid on 21st June by Wren, assisted by Mr. Thomas Strong, his master-mason. In 1710 Wren's son laid the highest stone of the lantern on the cupola, thus consummating the completion of St. Paul's, a structure which immortalises the genius of Sir Christopher in one of the finest examples of architectural art in the world. Wren died on 25th February, 1723.

“His many and most valuable inventions must always place him among the leading benefactors of mankind.” So says the Dictionary of National Biography regarding James Watt. This great son of our Empire was born on 19th June, 1736, at Grennock, where he was educated at the Grammar School. From his earliest years he displayed intense interest in practical mechanics and took a delight in the manual exercise of the craft. When seventeen years of age he was sent to London to obtain instruction in the art of making mathematical instruments. The following year he returned to Glasgow and was appointed mathematical instrument maker to the University. In 1763 he was called upon to repair a working model of a Newcomen steam engine, which was used for demonstration purposes by the Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University. It was in the prosecution of this task that the idea of his great improvement of the engine was conceived. Besides being a very fertile inventor Watt was a chemist and a very fine scholar and linguist, speaking Latin, Greek, French, German, and Italian. He was made a member of the Royal Society in 1781, and in 1806 received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Glasgow University. The great inventor declined the offer of a baronetcy which was offered to him as a reward for his services to the nation and to mankind. He died at the age of eighty-four at his house at Heathfield on 25th of August, 1819.