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.
Some of these names will be instantly recognisable, whereas others are perhaps more unsung heroes.
![While living in Portsmouth, Sir Arthur wrote two of his world-famous Sherlock Holmes books - A Study In Scarlet, and The Sign of Four.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmI2NWFiYmQ1LTI5MGYtNGJmNS1hNzM2LTA5YjYxM2ZkZmZlZDpmMjljYjJjNy01ZmUzLTQ3N2ItYTc0Ny02ZDFhYTYyOWMwZTU=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
5. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
While living in Portsmouth, Sir Arthur wrote two of his world-famous Sherlock Holmes books - A Study In Scarlet, and The Sign of Four.Photo: Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
![Sarah Shreeve is the organiser of Stop The Sewage Southsea, a campaign group that has galvanised thousands of people across more than half a dozen events, protests, and ‘protestivals’, as well as meeting Southern Water to address the firm’s pollution record.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmFhMjFlNTMwLTQ3OGYtNDI0MS04MmFjLTVhNWJlMTU3N2I0ODphZGEzODNhZC1hODdlLTQwMDgtOTE1My0zZDg2N2YxNjcxMjM=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
6. Sarah Shreeve
Sarah Shreeve is the organiser of Stop The Sewage Southsea, a campaign group that has galvanised thousands of people across more than half a dozen events, protests, and ‘protestivals’, as well as meeting Southern Water to address the firm’s pollution record.Photo: Mike Cooter
![England manager Gareth Southgate has firm childhood connections to the Portsmouth area - and many would aspire to be in his position.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjMzYzMxODc3LWY1NmEtNGY4NC1iNGNiLTNlMTc1MDQyNjdkNzpiMjE0YThjMC0wYTBiLTRlYmYtYjJkNi1lNGUxY2ZkYjIwZjc=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
7. Gareth Southgate
England manager Gareth Southgate has firm childhood connections to the Portsmouth area - and many would aspire to be in his position.Photo: Elsa/Getty Images
![Rachael Ross MBE is the chair of Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association, a trustee for the National Down Syndrome Policy Group and mother to Max Ross who has the condition.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmZmMGQwMzMyLTM2YjEtNDU5My1hMDE1LWNjOGI3ZDBlOTczNDo0YmQwNjBlYy1mMjBiLTRiNTYtODk5Mi0xZmI2MTUxMDdjZmY=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
8. Rachel Ross
Rachael Ross MBE is the chair of Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association, a trustee for the National Down Syndrome Policy Group and mother to Max Ross who has the condition.Photo: Habibur Rahman