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Dictionary of national biography

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Free ODNB

The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford DNB) has tens of thousands of biographies about men and women who’ve shaped British history, worldwide, from the Romans to the 21st century. Enjoy a sample of our content below, freely available on our open shelves.

If you like what you see, you can find out how to access the complete Oxford DNB, which includes information on accessing through UK public libraries.

For information about the Oxford DNB, including its history and how often it’s updated, please visit our About page.

For answers to some common questions about the site visit our Frequently Asked Questions page or read our detailed help page.

Collections

Are you interested in the full scope of biographies by region or theme? Read our freely available content on the topics listed below for a sample of the Oxford DNB’s comprehensive national record.

Local Lives

The Oxford DNB includes all of the greatest figures from the past, including thousands of men and women of regional importance. Explore people by city and county from across the United Kingdom.

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  • MAB CERNYW - see MATHEWS, JOHN HOBSON
  • MAB Y CLOCHYDDYN (fl. c. 1380), poet
  • MABON - see ABRAHAM, WILLIAM
  • MACDONALD, GORDON (first Baron MACDONALD of GWAENYSGOR), (1888 - 1966), politician
  • MACHEN, ARTHUR (1863 - 1947), writer
  • MACHU Saint - see MALO, Saint
  • MACHUTES Saint - see MALO, Saint
  • MACKWORTH, CECILY JOAN (1911 - 2006), writer, poet, journalist and traveller
  • MACKWORTH, Sir HUMPHREY (1657 - 1727), industrialist and parliamentarian
  • MACLEAN, Sir EWEN JOHN (1865 - 1953), first professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the Welsh National School of Medicine
  • MACLOVIUS Saint - see MALO, Saint
  • MADAM GRIFFITH - see GRIFFITH, SIDNEY
  • MADDOCK, Sir IEUAN (1917 - 1988), Chief Scientist to the Department of Industry
  • MADDOCKS, ANN (the Maid of Cefn Ydfa; 1704 - 1727)
  • MADOC Saint - see AIDAN, Saint
  • MADOCKS, WILLIAM ALEXANDER (1773 - 1828), industrialist and philanthropist
  • MADOG ap GRUFFYDD (d. 1236), lord of Powys
  • MADOG ap GWALLTER, friar, a religious poet
  • MADOG ap LLYWELYN (fl. 1294), rebel
  • MADOG ap MAREDUDD (d. 1160), king of Powys
  • MADOG BENFRAS (fl. c. 1320-1360),
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    Wales and the Welsh in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

    The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography tells the life stories of nearly 60,000 men and women (deceased in or before 2010) who have shaped British history worldwide. Of these, more than 3300 were born or lived in Wales, or left their mark on aspects of Welsh life—from politics to sport, industry to the arts.

    Together these subjects span 1500 years of Welsh history, beginning with the sixth-century St Deiniol (bishop of Bangor and monastery founder) and concluding with close contemporaries such as the footballer John Charles (1931–2004), the pioneering organic farmer, Dinah Williams (1911-2009), and Michael Foot (1913-2010), the long-serving Labour MP for Ebbw Vale.

    1. Find people

    With the online edition of the Oxford DNB you can search for people:

    • by name (including nicknames, pseudonyms, married names, title names and more)
    • by date or date range
    • by place of birth, baptism, education, residence (including street, where known), death, and burial
    • by ‘profession’ (we have 1300 on offer: from wrestlers

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