This is a list of people from the English village of Wigan and people live in and born in Wigan.
The demonym of Wigan is Wiganers; however, this list may include people from the wider Metropolitan Borough of Wigan—from Ashton-in-Makerfield, Hindley, Ince-in-Makerfield, Atherton, Leigh, Tyldesley, and other areas in the borough. The demonym is also Wiganians. This list is arranged alphabetically by surname:
__NOTOC__ Table of contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A Andy Ainscow (born 1968), former footballer James Anderton (1932–2022), former chief constable of Greater Manchester PoliceGod's Cop : Biography of James Anderton (Michael Prince, 1989). New English Library Ltd. Richard Ashcroft (born 1971), lead singer of The Verve, born in Billinge Chris Ashton (born 1987), England rugby league and rugby union international, born in Wigan Bill Ashurst (1948–2022), rugby league footballer of the 1960s and 1970s for Great Britain, Lancashire, Wigan, Penrith Panthers, Wakefield Trinity, and Runcorn Highfield, born in Wigan
B David Banks, (born 1967) indoor/outdoor footballer and manager Alan R. Battersby, (1925–2018), organic chemist and Fellow of the Royal Society, and known for his work on the genetic blueprint, structure, and synthetic pathway of Cyanocobalamin. Tom Billington (1958–2018), professional wrestler used the ring name Dynamite Kid, one half of tag-team The British Bulldogs with Davey Boy Smith, born in Golborne Margery Booth (1906–1952), opera singer and World War II spy, born in Wigan Thomas Burke (1890–1969), international operatic tenor; born in Leigh in 1890 and attended St Joseph's School in Leigh; the Leigh Wetherspoon's pub is named after him Kay Burley (born 1960), presenter and newsreader on Sky News, born in Beech Hill, Wigan James Burton (1784–1868), cotton merchant, built several early cotton mills in Hindsford and Tyldesley, born in Clitheroe
C Duncan Cleworth, (born 1957), swimmer, competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, member of Tyldesley Swimming Club.
D Percy Dowse (18981970), former Mayor of Lower Hutt, New Zealand Kathleen Drew-Baker (19011957), psychologist, born in Leigh Kathryn Drysdale (born 1981), actress, played Louise Brooks in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps
E Edith Edmonds (1874-1951), artist, used oils and watercolours for still-life and landscape paintings Shaun Edwards (born 1966), rugby league player and coach of London Wasps rugby union coach; Wales national rugby union team defence coach Retrieved on 8 December 2008. Greg Ellis (born 1968), actor and voiceover artist Edward Entwistle (1815-1909), driver of Stephenson's Rocket
F Georgie Fame (born 1943), R&B singer and keyboard player, born in LeighGeorgie Fame bisgraphy Joseph Farington (17471821), watercolour artist, diarist and Royal Academician was born in Leigh where his father was the vicar. Andy Farrell (born 1975), former international rugby player of both codes, born and raised in Wigan and current head coach of the Ireland rugby union team Brian Finch (1936–2007), Wigan-born script-writer who contributed 151 episodes of Coronation Street over a period of 12 years Retrieved on 8 December 2008. Henry Finch (16331704), Presbyterian minister ejected from Church of England, born in Standish Phil Fletcher (born 1976), puppeteer George Formby (1904–1961), comedian, ukulele player and actor
G Joe Gormley, Baron Gormley (1917–1993), former president of the National Union of MineworkersJoe Gormley (1982). Battered cherub. Hamilton. . Andy Gregory (born 1961), former Wigan rugby league player, born in Ince in Makerfield, now lives in Ashton in Makerfield. Mike Gregory (1964–2007), former Great Britain national rugby league team and Warrington Wolves captain, former Wigan Warriors coach, born in Wigan Retrieved on 5 December 2008. John Grimshaw (1893–1980), recipient of the Victoria Cross, Lieutenant-Colonel in The Lancashire Fusiliers David Grindley (born 1972), former 400m runner, team bronze medallist at the 1992 Summer Olympics
H Eddie Halliwell (born 1979 or 1980), disc jockey Roger Hampson (19251996), artist, printmaker and teacher, born in Tyldesley Keith Harris (born October 1951), music industry consultant & artist manager, former chair of UK Music's Diversity & Equality Taskforce, grew up in Wigan. Thomas Highs (17181803), inventor of cotton spinning machinery, born in Leigh James Hilton (1900–1954), author, wrote of Goodbye, Mr Chips, born in Leigh Arthur John Hope (18751960), architect and partner in Bradshaw Gass & Hope, was born and lived in Atherton
I James Lawrence Isherwood (1917–1989), prolific impressionist/expressionist painter Retrieved on 8 December 2008. Robert Isherwood (1845-1905), born in Tyldesley, was the local miners' agent and treasurer of the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners' Federation.
K Shaun Keaveny (born 1972), radio broadcaster, born in Leigh, once broadcast his BBC 6 Music breakfast show live from Leigh Library Thomas Kershaw (18191898), pioneer in creating imitation marble, born in Standish Roy Kinnear (19341988), comedy actor, born in Wigan Victoria Knowles (born 1976), author of bestselling ebook The PA
L Eric Roberts Laithwaite (19211997), engineer, known for his development of the linear induction motor and Maglev rail system John Lennard-Jones (18941954), mathematician and physicist, born in Leigh and attended Leigh Grammar School, Fellow of the Royal Society. Limahl (born 1958), real name Christopher Hamill, pop rock/dance vocalist, lead singer of Kajagoogoo James Lindsay, 24th Earl of Crawford (17831869), Earl of Balcarres, Army officer and politician, built Haigh HallEarls of Balcarres Luke Lowe (1889?), Wigan-born football player. He briefly played in the Football League Second Division.
M Barry Mason Paul Mason (born 1960), journalist and broadcaster, born in Leigh. Ian McKellen (born 1939), screen and stage actor, who lived in Wigan for most of his first 12 years. Jennifer Moss (1945-2006), actress best known for playing Lucille Hewitt in Coronation Street. Ian Murphy (born 1963), artist and art educator
N Walter Napier (1875?), English professional footballer Fred Norris (19212006) who worked underground at Cleworth Hall Colliery in Tyldesley competed as long-distance runner at the 1952 Helsinki and 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
O Sean O’Loughlin (born 1982), former rugby league player and captain for Wigan Warriors and Great Britain Edward Ormerod (1834–1894), mining engineer at Gibfield Colliery; invented the Ormerod detaching hook, an important mining safety device
P Mary Pownall (18621937), sculptor, was the daughter of James Pownall the silk manufacturer. She was born and raised in Leigh. James Caldwell Prestwich (18521940), architect, born in Atherton, who designed many of Leigh's buildings including the town hall.
R Kris Radlinski (born 1976), former rugby league player for Wigan Warriors and Great Britain, and current CEO of the club. Frank Randle (1901–1957), comedian, born in Aspull Ted Ray (1905–1977), comedian, had a BBC radio show Ray's a Laugh which ran for 12 years, born in Wigan. John Roby (1793–1850), folklorist, banker, poet, and writer. Retrieved on 8 December 2008.
S Andy Saunders (born 1974), author and NASA image restorer. Pete Shelley (19552018), born Peter Campbell McNeish in Leigh, singer, songwriter and guitarist with the Buzzcocks. Nigel Short (born 1965), chess grandmaster, grew up in Atherton and attended St Philip's School Davey Boy Smith (1962–2002), professional wrestler for the WWF and WCW as The British Bulldog Danny Sonner (born 1972), Wigan-born association football player who has represented Northern Ireland national football team Retrieved on 8 December 2008. John Stopford, Baron Stopford of Fallowfield (1888–1961), physician and anatomist, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester
T George Taylor (1920–1983), born in Wigan, footballer Georgia Taylor (born 1980), actress best known for playing Toyah Battersby in Coronation Street Ella Toone (born 1999), born in Wigan, footballer for England Addin Tyldesley (1878–1962), born in Tyldesley, member of the town's swimming and water polo club, competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. Elizabeth Tyldesley, (15851654) the daughter of Thomas Tyldesley of Morleys Hall, Astley, was a 17th-century abbess at the Poor Clare Convent at Gravelines. Thomas Tyldesley (1612–1651), soldier, died in the Battle of Wigan Lane
W Charles Walmesley (17221797), Roman Catholic Titular Bishop of Rama; born in Langtree Dave Whelan (born 1936), businessman nicknamed Mr Wigan, founder of JJB Sports, former owner of both Wigan Athletic and Wigan Warriors Retrieved on 8 December 2008. Retrieved on 8 December 2008. Katie White (born 1983), member of The Ting Tings, born and brought up in Lowton Danny Wilson (born 1960), Wigan-born association football player and manager Retrieved on 8 December 2008. Gerrard Winstanley (1609–1676), Protestant religious reformer, political philosopher and founder of the 17th-century Diggers, born in Wigan. James Wood (16721759), Presbyterian minister of the first Atherton and Chowbent Chapels, led a force that successfully defended the bridge over the River Ribble at Walton le Dale in the Battle of Preston in 1715. Thomas Woodcock (1888–1918), recipient of the Victoria Cross, Lance Corporal in the Irish Guards, born in Wigan Caleb Wright (18101898), MP for Leigh, 1885-1895, and mill owner who built Barnfield Mills in Tyldesley Witness, an English rock band from Wigan
See also Hacker T. Dog (from 2009), fictional dog from Wigan Wallace and Gromit (from 1989), fictional residents of Wigan List of people from Greater Manchester
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