On my father's side there is the Dutch painter Jan Steen, a contemporary of Rembrandt and on my mother's there is Jim Bowie, commander of Texan forces at the Alamo and man who had a big-ass knife named after him.
Who's Your Coolest Ancestor?
- Thread starter Chamale
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My grandfather (on my father's side) is a famous screenwriter in China. He married my grandmother who was a revered traditional opera singer. Together they wrote and performed some pretty amazing stuff back in the day, but were both persecuted and arrested during the Cultural Revolution (some fucked up shit). My grandfather remained jailed for some time and my grandmother was executed for being an intellectual.
My grandfather still lives in China to this day and still writes scripts occasionally. I think I adopted my interest in filmmaking from him.
My grandfather still lives in China to this day and still writes scripts occasionally. I think I adopted my interest in filmmaking from him.
Probably my Great Great Great Grandfather Ole Fredrickson. Well back then our last name was Frederickson, but we changed it after the Civil War. He served in the Civil War for the Union and was blinded in one eye in the line of duty and discharged. However, for some reason he was drafted again into a different regiment and was blinded in the other eye too. It apparently was because since he lived in an area with many Scandinavians with similar last names, the recruiters thought he was another person. I don't know if he tried to get out, but he stayed in until the end of the war and then we changed our last name to Fredrickson so as to not get confused.
My great uncle played for the Welsh rugby team.
Also, not sure if he was my ancestor, but Robert the Bruce was from the same Clan as I am...
Also, not sure if he was my ancestor, but Robert the Bruce was from the same Clan as I am...
I'm related to two famous people that I know of, a man named William Toulmin, here is an extract about him from a document my dad sent me:
William TOULMIN 1916 - 2004
b. 7 Jan 1916, Hexham (GRO). Corchester Prep.
School, Northumberland, 1925-29; Exhibition to St
Peter's York, 1929-34; Exhibition to Brasenose Coll.
Oxford, 1934-7/ Rugby Blue; stroked college 1st VIII.
Joined Anglo-Iranian Oil Co. (and learned Persian).
Returned England to join up 1939. In charge of
intelligence in British Legation, Teheran, 1941-3.
Political Intelligence Centre Middle East, rank of
Major, 1943-5 (mentioned in despatches). Returned to
Iran 1945-50. Briefly aide to Anthony Eden [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Eden].
Administrative Manager of United Africa Co in Nigeria,
1952-3. 1953-77 (Montreal): in Canadian National
Railways, for 15 years as Assistant to President.
Retired to Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada (48.51N,
123.31E; 116 Carlin Ave, Ganges,BC, Canada); all
descendants are Canadian citizens.
I am also, very (very) distantly, related to Winston Churchill, but I sadly cannot prove that right now; I will edit this post as soon as I can.
William TOULMIN 1916 - 2004
b. 7 Jan 1916, Hexham (GRO). Corchester Prep.
School, Northumberland, 1925-29; Exhibition to St
Peter's York, 1929-34; Exhibition to Brasenose Coll.
Oxford, 1934-7/ Rugby Blue; stroked college 1st VIII.
Joined Anglo-Iranian Oil Co. (and learned Persian).
Returned England to join up 1939. In charge of
intelligence in British Legation, Teheran, 1941-3.
Political Intelligence Centre Middle East, rank of
Major, 1943-5 (mentioned in despatches). Returned to
Iran 1945-50. Briefly aide to Anthony Eden [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Eden].
Administrative Manager of United Africa Co in Nigeria,
1952-3. 1953-77 (Montreal): in Canadian National
Railways, for 15 years as Assistant to President.
Retired to Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada (48.51N,
123.31E; 116 Carlin Ave, Ganges,BC, Canada); all
descendants are Canadian citizens.
I am also, very (very) distantly, related to Winston Churchill, but I sadly cannot prove that right now; I will edit this post as soon as I can.
Well two of my great uncles (one of whom went to the same school I go to now) on my mother's side both fought and died in WW1 and on my father's side, my great grandfather fought in WW1.
I can't think of anyone famous, but this is pretty cool: On my mother's side, going way, way back, I have a number of ancestors who were all called Davy Jones, including one or two who were captains in the navy. Captain Davy Jones. I shit you not. I think they were Welsh.
I can't think of anyone famous, but this is pretty cool: On my mother's side, going way, way back, I have a number of ancestors who were all called Davy Jones, including one or two who were captains in the navy. Captain Davy Jones. I shit you not. I think they were Welsh.
I've kinda got a tie going down. First, through my dad, I'm related to John Wilkes Booth. Yeah, John "Sic Semper Tyrannus" Wilkes Booth. I'm pretty sure I'm legally barred from getting within 150 feet of the President.
On my mom's side, I'm related to Donald the III of Scotland, the crazy bloke that the minor character "Donalbaine" from Macbeth is based off of. Shakespeare wrote a couple verses about one of my ancestors. That's just cool to say, you know?
On my mom's side, I'm related to Donald the III of Scotland, the crazy bloke that the minor character "Donalbaine" from Macbeth is based off of. Shakespeare wrote a couple verses about one of my ancestors. That's just cool to say, you know?
My dad's cousin was the money man for Watergate
My great, great , great (dunno how many greats...) grandfather had to flee Germany for seducing the Kaiser's wife
My great, great , great (dunno how many greats...) grandfather had to flee Germany for seducing the Kaiser's wife
Eh, my traceable ancestors aren't terribly interesting, as far back as I've been able to go (10th century or so, Norway, Germany and England... lots of raider's blood in me). My paternal grandfather, though... He never figured out who his father was, took his last name from one of his possible fathers when he was 16 and falsifying information so as to join the Marine Corps... he fought in the Pacific Theater, and wound up getting shipped home after charging a machine gun nest and taking a rather large bullet to the leg. If stories are to be believed, he managed to get a hand grenade in there, which enabled his platoon to storm the place successfully.
All I personally remember about the guy was the fact that he was bedridden the whole time I knew him, and his hand was bigger than my head. He died when I was five.
All I personally remember about the guy was the fact that he was bedridden the whole time I knew him, and his hand was bigger than my head. He died when I was five.
Ancient Rome is the site of my famous and venerated ancestor.
His name is Hadrian, a Roman Army officer under Scipio when Rome burned Carthage to the ground. Hadrian impressed Scipio so much, that Hadrian was appointed as a judge in a section of Rome.
His name is Hadrian, a Roman Army officer under Scipio when Rome burned Carthage to the ground. Hadrian impressed Scipio so much, that Hadrian was appointed as a judge in a section of Rome.
Jesse James. The outlaw, gang leader, bank robber, train robber, and murderer not that biker douche.