Prior to going into politics, Disraeli was a novelist and had strong family connections with John Murray. Together they helped to create the daily newspaper The Representative, but when the newspaper failed after only a few months, the families fell out.

Disraeli was Prime Minister and a favourite of Queen Victoria. He is Britain’s first and only Jewish Prime Minister.

The nineteenth century was a period of great change and Disraeli was Prime Minister during this time. His government introduced many important health and education reforms, as well as extending the vote. He is credited with saying "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damn lies and statistics".

Although not credited with any new discoveries, Somerville wrote popular books which helped to explain a wide range of scientific and mathematical work. Along with Caroline Herschel, she was one of the first women to become an honorary member of The Royal Astronomical Society.

Considering she had only one year’s formal education this was quite an accomplishment. She taught herself despite little encouragement from her family, who banned her from using their stock of candles to read mathematical works in bed.

Even into old age she retained a sharp mind and keen interest in scientific developments. She knew the great scientists of her time and her correspondence reflect both her intellect and love of gossip: "Sir David Brewster 76 years old was married a few days ago to Miss Parnell aged 26 without saying a word to his daughter".

After she died Somerville became known as the Queen of Science for her many achievements. Somerville College at Oxford University, commemorates her

Layard was a, traveller, art historian, draughtsman, collector, author and diplomat. However he is best known as one of the most famous nineteenth century archaeologists, due to his excavation of the ancient city of Nineveh in Iraq.

Layard's excavation of buildings, palaces and libraries discovered many statues and treasures, some of which are still on display in the British Museum.

When he made his discoveries public he was credited with having "made the Bible true". In 1853, Layard was given the freedom of the City of London for demonstrating 'the accuracy of Sacred History'.

The beautifully illustrated accounts of his excavations give a captivating insight into his dangerous life abroad and the excavations he carried out.

Jane Austen's novels are still widely read today and are produced as plays, films and TV adaptations. Her books are often recognised for their sharp wit and their satirical depiction of Regency Society.

Although her novels usually focus on the mechanics of marriage, Austen never married. She lived with her sister Cassandra instead. Both dealt with her publisher, John Murray, in a perhaps surprisingly astute manner.

John Murray published Emma, Mansfield Park, Persuasion and Northanger Abbey, the latter two of which were published after Austen’s death in 1817.

Byron’s works of poetry were hugely popular and sold over 100,000 copies. He was an overnight success after the publication of Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage; he famously said “I awoke one morning and found myself famous”.

One of the first modern celebrities, his personal life was considered shocking due to the number of lovers he had. Many people followed his exploits through reports in the press.

After his death, some of Byron’s friends, including John Murray, burned his memoirs so that his reputation would not be further damaged.

As a young man, Darwin travelled to many locations studying geology and animal life. An important voyage was on board the H.M.S. Beagle, during which he visited the Galapagos Islands. He later said of this voyage it ‘determined my whole career’. John Murray later published Darwin’s findings from this trip and went on to publish all his future works.

Darwin proposed the theory of evolution in his book On the Origin of the Species. Published in 1859, it is widely considered one of the most important books ever written. It was controversial as it challenged widely held religious teachings.

When he published his ideas it caused a great debate, which still rages today. Letters in the John Murray Archive provide a fascinating insight into the arguments both for and against Darwin’s theory.

Scott is seen as being chiefly responsible for the historical and romantic image of Scotland that emerged in the 19th century.

He published his some of his novels anonymously and there was much speculation as to the identity of the author. A young John Murray III was there when Scott proclaimed them as his own: The dinner therefore would have been little better than endurable, had it not been remarkable for the confession of Sir Walter Scott that he was the author of the Waverley Novels.

Scott had many friends and was one of the most important guests to John Murray’s drawing room, meeting to socialise with the other great writers and thinkers of the day.

For over twenty-five years Bishop travelled the world, often to places where she was not only the first European woman but also the first Westerner. She visited many countries including India, China, Korea, Japan, Australia, the United States of America, Turkey, Persia and Kurdistan.

Despite being less than five feet tall and suffering regular health problems, she was unfazed by physical challenges; she was the first woman to climb the world’s highest volcano and rode through the Atlas Mountains during her seventieth year.

In November of 1859, back in Africa, Livingstone writes from the River Shire: 'We have just traced this river up to its source in Lake Nyassa' and describes a long walk through 'well watered mountainous country'. He tells John Murray, his publisher, that they had had to abandon the steam vessel 'in a sinking state' and complains that the £1200 vessel lasted just 12 months.

James Hogg was the son of a farmer, but despite a lack of formal education he established himself as a well known poet and novelist. Due to his rustic background he became known as the Ettrick Shepherd. Hogg is best remembered for his novel Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner. This was not published by Murray, who only dealt with some of his poetic works, which were much more popular at the time.