Notable People
- John Dynham, 1st Baron Dynham (died 1501), a leading royal councillor to three kings, was a native of Newton Abbot.
- Robert Hayman, poet, and governor of Newfoundland, born in Wolborough (now part of Newton Abbot) in 1575.
- John Lethbridge, who invented a diving salvage machine in 1715.
- Lewis Tessier, merchant and political figure in Newfoundland, born here in 1820.
- William Knox D'Arcy, a founder of the petrochemical industry in Persia, born here in 1849.
- Frank Matcham, the theatrical architect, born here in 1854.
- General Sir Leslie Rundle, a British Army General, born here in 1856.
- Frank Harry, first-class cricketer, born here in 1876.
- Ivy Williams, the first woman to be called to the English bar, born here in 1877.
- Fred Thompson, writer and librettist was born in London in 1884, but raised here.
- Sir Samuel White Baker, explorer, big-game hunter, writer and abolitionist, bought the Sandford Orleigh estate in 1874, and died there in 1893. Baker's Park in the south west of the town is named after him.
- Oliver Heaviside, the physicist, lived here from 1897 to 1909.
- Edith Mayne, freestyle swimmer, born here in 1905.
- Norah Baring, movie actress, born here in 1907.
- Don Bird, professional footballer, born here in 1908.
- Robert Cyril Layton Perkins (1866–1955), entomologist, retired here in 1912.
- Len Coldwell, cricketer, born here in 1933.
- David Vine, TV sports presenter, born here in 1935.
- John Wilcox, cricketer, born here in 1940.
- Anthea Redfern, former television hostess, born here in 1948.
- Hiley Edwards, cricketer who played for and captained Devon.
- Peter Truscott, Baron Truscott, peer, petroleum and mining consultant, and writer, born here in 1959.
- Sergio Pizzorno, guitarist and songwriter with band Kasabian, born here in 1980.
- Guy Hendrix Dyas, designer and feature film production designer, raised here in the 1980s
- Chris Metters, cricketer, played for South Devon CC and currently signed for Warwickshire County Cricket Club
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