Countless people have come before us to set remarkable examples, with acts of selflessness, leadership and world-renowned creativity.
Some of these names will be instantly recognisable, whereas others are perhaps more unsung heroes.
Here are 13 of the most inspirational people to have come from Portsmouth.
![From Old Portsmouth, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston was the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world - fighting rough seas, the French and even appendicitis.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjFkZTgwOGRlLTkwNDUtNDU4MC1hMjE2LTBkOTE0OTQ4YzVhOTo3ZDczZGI5YS02NDI5LTRkYzMtYmIzOC1iZWViYzZkZmRiYjA=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
1. Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
From Old Portsmouth, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston was the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world - fighting rough seas, the French and even appendicitis.Photo: Habibur Rahman
![Esme Groves has spina bifida, but that didn't stop her from completing a charity walk from South Parade Pier to raise money for charity Shine.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjEwZjBlZmRlLWQ0Y2MtNDQ3OS04NDYwLTEyMzBmOTUwNjNkODo0ZDUwZmYwNC1hZTkwLTQ2ZGItYjgyNS00Y2IzMTdkNDNkOGQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
2. Esma Groves
Esme Groves has spina bifida, but that didn't stop her from completing a charity walk from South Parade Pier to raise money for charity Shine.Photo: Matthew Clark
![Mason Mount's meteoric rise from Portsmouth schoolboy to Chelsea first XI mainstay has been nothing short of inspirational.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmQ4MGNhODU1LTM2MWEtNGFmOC04MzAyLWI0NDk5ZGQ4MWJiZDpiNDA0ZGQ4MS1iNzIyLTQ4MWMtOGViZS1jOWQ4N2UxM2ZkYjM=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
3. Mason Mount
Mason Mount's meteoric rise from Portsmouth schoolboy to Chelsea first XI mainstay has been nothing short of inspirational.Photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images
![Born in Landport, the literature of writer Charles Dickens is both known and studied right across the world.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmY2YjVjOGIzLTRmMTgtNDQ0MC1iZjcwLTgxYzkzOWMwYTgxYjpkYjBlMzE5Zi03NmI4LTQ4NDUtOGE2Ni02NjkzNjNiNGIxMjU=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
4. Charles Dickens
Born in Landport, the literature of writer Charles Dickens is both known and studied right across the world.Photo: Keith Woodland