Many famous people hail from Edinburgh, from Olympians to actors to politicians.
The Edinburgh Evening News is marking 150 years since the publication of its very first paper in 1873. To celebrate, we are naming 150 celebrities and local heroes who have a connection to the Capital, in alphabetical order. So far, we’ve mentioned some big names, including Arthur Conan Doyle, David Tennant, JK Rowling, and Ian Rankin. Even some animals have made the list!
Here are 15 of the most famous faces from Edinburgh, from J to K.
Here are 15 of the most famous faces from Edinburgh, from J to K.
5. John Knox
Edinburgh locals might recognise this statue, which can be found in the New College courtyard at the University of Edinburgh. It honours John Knox, a Scottish minister who was born in Haddington, East Lothian. Knox was famous for leading the Protestant Reformation in Scotland, and for shaping the Church of Scotland into a more democratic institution. Photo: via WikiCommons
6. John Leslie
This former TV presenter was born and raised in Edinburgh. Before his career in television, John Gibson was a student at Liberton High School and James Gillespie's High School in the Capital. He is known for presenting BBC One's Blue Peter, ITV's This Morning and gameshow Wheel of Fortune. However, Gibson retired from public life after several legal battles and allegations, and now works in property development. Photo: Jane Barlow
7. John Napier
John Napier was a mathematician, physicist, and astronomer, who was born in Edinburgh in 1550. He is best known for discovering logarithms. Napier, who was the 8th Laird of Merchiston, died in 1617. A memorial to him stands in the city at St Cuthbert's Parish Church. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
8. John Smith
There are several famous Johns who hail from Edinburgh - one being Sir John Smith of Grothill. The landowner and merchant served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh in the 17th century - from 1643 to 1646, when the city looked like the above picture. Photo: Wikimedia Commons