Will Hatfield – footballer. Plays for Accrington Stanley. Has also played for Leeds United, and York City.
William Hatfield (1892-1969) – author. Born Ernest Chapman on 18 March 1892 at Nottingham, England. Training to be a solicitor after graduating from Nottingham University, he gave it up to work his passage to Australia where he became a bushman (cowboy). He became a writer under the pen name William Hatfield, using his working experiences as inspiration for his novels (including 'Sheepmates' and 'Australia Through the Wind Screen') on life in Australia. Formally adopted his pen name by deed poll during a visit to England in 1938. The Australian Dictionary of Biography mentions that he served in the Army as an educationalist, was a Communist, interested in conservation, and was married three times before his death in February 1969.
William Hatfield – of unknown repute. Used here as a demonstration that the Hatfield surname was also used early in Australia's history. New South Wales Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages online database shows he married an Elizabeth Cook in 1790.
Dr William Herbert Hatfield (1882-1943) – metallurgist. Studied metallurgy (properties of metals) at the University of Sheffield. He won the Mappin Medal in 1902, received his doctorate in 1913, and won the Bessemer Gold Medal in 1933. He wrote several scientific papers, and his work with alloys and metals was of particular significance to the fledgling motor and aviation industries. He served as a director of Firth-Brown Research Laboratories, and John Brown Ltd. The Hatfield Memorial Lecture has been held annually in his memory.
Jasper Tudor (also known as Jasper of Hatfield) – believed to have been born at the Bishops Palace, Hatfield, Hertfordshire around 1431. Second son of Owen Tudor and the widow of King Henry V, Catherine of Valois. Jasper and his elder brother Edmund were raised by the Church, and were ennobled in November 1452 as the Earl of Pembroke and the Earl of Richmond respectively, in the court of King Henry VI. Jasper was present at the first Battle of St Albans (22 May 1455). His nephew, Henry Tudor (later King Henry VII) was Edmund's son (Edmund had been captured by and released by York supporters but died from the plague in 1456), born in 1457. Jasper became a Knight of the Garter in 1459 and had played a major role in establishing the King's authority in Wales. Following hostilities with York forces, together with his father Owen, had captured Denbigh Castle in 1460 but they were defeated by York's son, Edward, Earl of March, in 1461. Jasper managed to escape and is thought to have spent time in France and Scotland (Owen was captured and executed). In 1462 the Lancastrians attacked Northumberland but Jasper ended up surrendering and accepting a safe passage back to Scotland. He later became an accepted member of the French King Louis XI's court, and took part in a failed invasion of north Wales in 1468. He returned to the fray in 1470 and attempted to install his nephew as king. However, his allies, Margaret of Anjou and her son, Prince Edward, were captured and killed in 1471 by the forces loyal to King Edward IV. Jasper and his nephew fled to France and were kept confined for 13-years. 1485 found them back in Britain. This time they defeated King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth (his death marked the end of the Plantagenet rule and the start of the Tudor dynasty). Jasper was created the Duke of Bedford later that year and had old lands and titles restored, and new ones added. Marrying the widow of a Yorkist Duke the same year brought fresh estates under his control. He remained arguably the King's most trusted commander, councillor and administrator (appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1486; Lieutenant of Calais in 1488; joint commander of a force sent to France in 1492). He died peaceably in his sixties on 21 December 1495.
Back to: Features on Hatfield27 August 2012