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Famous LISTONS
Sir Robert Liston
Born in 1742 on a farm near Kirkliston in Scotland, Sir Robert Liston as he later became, acted at intervals from 1774 to 1821 as British Ambassador at the Courts of Munich, Berlin, the Ottoman Ports, Holland, Spain and the United States of America.
In those positions he acted with great diplomatic wisdom and at the height of his career could speak ten languages fluently.
There is a place near Stockholm, Sweden called Listonhill in his memory.
In 1821 he retired and went to live near Edinburgh where he entertained many 'foreigners of distinction'. Sir Robert was also well loved by the local poor people due to his benevolence. He died in 1836.
Most Rev. James Michael Liston
Dr James Michael Liston was born in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1885 and was ordained into the Church there at the age of 19.
He was later appointed Professor then rector of Holy Cross College and in 1939 was awarded the Chevalier Legion of Honour.
He became Bishop of Auckland and in 1953 was made Archbishop of New Zealand. Dr Liston died in 1976.
Daniel Liston
Daniel was reputedly the first Liston to live in America. He was originally a native of Bristol, England and in 1658 bought 400 acres of land near to the Potomack River, Westmoreland Co, Virginia where he lived with his wife Jane.In 1661 Daniel was chosen as a vestryman for Appomattocks Parish, and in the same year it is recorded that one of his servants Benjamin Gardner was buried there. He was a magistrate and Indian interpreter and accompanied Colonel John Washington, the first Presidents great grandfather, in 1675 against Susquehanna Fort.
He died in 1679 and the 400 acres with all the buildings thereon were held by Daniel’s children and heirs in England, Robert, Thomas and Dorothy. In 1695 they sold the entire estate to Laurence Washington who on dying soon after left it to Augustine Washington, George’s father.
Several historians believe that George Washington was born in the old Liston house.
Daniel Liston did not leave any descendants in America and both his sons died without offspring.
Patrick Liston
Patrick Liston was the Laird of Longton and Wheatland in Linlithgow, Scotland in the 17th century. He was fined £600 after the restoration of the Monarchy in 1662 for alleged complicity with Cromwell.
Patrick was an adherent to the covenanting party and took part in a rebellion in defence of religious liberty. He was present at the Battle of Pentland in 1666 when the Covenanters army lost and he was subsequently declared a rebel.
When the authorities failed to apprehend him he was tried in his absence and found guilty of treason. He was sentenced to death along with the other leaders of the conflict (including his son, William Liston)
Both Listons evaded capture and were eventually pardoned by King William himself in 1690. However it is doubtful whether either of them were still alive.
Sonny Liston
Born one of 25 brothers and sisters, Charles 'Sonny' Liston led a troubled life and learned boxing while serving time in prison for armed robbery. He turned pro in 1953 and rapidly ascended the heavyweight ranks, leaving a stream of knockout victims in his wake. A multi-talented fighter, it could be said that Sonny Liston's best weapon was intimidation. He had one of the best jab's in boxing and knockout power in each hand, but Liston's baleful scowl often had opponents defeated before the first bell.
Sonny beat top contenders such as Cleveland Williams, Nino Valdes, Zora Folley and Eddie Machen to position himself for a title fight. He became heavyweight champion of the world on September 25, 1962 when he kayoed Floyd Patterson in one round. He granted Patterson a rematch 10 months later but the result was the same: Liston by knockout in the first round.
Liston's reputation as an invincible champion was shattered when he quit on his stool between the seventh and eighth rounds against challenger Cassius Clay in 1964. A rematch was staged a year later and Clay - known then as Muhammad Ali - scored a first-round knockout. Some say Ali landed a "phantom punch," and Liston's reputation was forever tarnished.
In his last bout, Liston stopped a young heavyweight named Chuck Wepner in 1970. Unfortunately on December 30th of that year Liston was found dead in his Las Vegas apartment.
Rev. Henry Liston
Henry Liston was born in 1771 and was described by his contemporaries as a 'man of genius'.
His taste for music and things mechanical led to him inventing the 'Euharmonic Organ' which he exhibited in London in 1811, eliciting the approval and admiration of the leading lights of the music profession.
Among other inventions Henry Liston invented an improved form of plough which was widely used.
Robert Liston
Born in 1794 in Scotland, Robert Liston attended Edinburgh University and in 1818 became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons.
He moved to the North London Hospital in 1834 and rapidly acquired a large consulting practice. The most difficult and critical operations were reserved for him.
Robert Liston was renowned for his speed and could perform an operation single handedly using his great strength to compress arteries with his left hand and cutting and sawing with his right. He invented a thigh support called 'The Liston Splint'.
On 21st December 1846, the first British operation under anaesthesia was undertaken by Robert Liston at University College Hospital. He used ether to amputate the leg of a butler, Frederick Churchill. The amputation took 28 seconds!
On his untimely death in 1847 'The Times' wrote of him "Mr Listons death may be considered a national loss" and the medical journal, 'The Lancet' wrote "The profession has lost in him one of its most distinguished ornaments who had not his superior in this country, Europe or the world. He was equal to any of the past heroes of surgery".
David Liston
Born in 1799, David Liston resided for many years in India and was at one time Astronomer to the King of Oude.
On his return to Scotland he was appointed Professor of Hebrew and Oriental Languages at the University of Edinburgh in 1847.
He married his cousin in 1852 and they had a son Henry, a surgeon.
Ian Liston
Ian Liston is the founder of the Hiss & Boo Music Hall and Variety Company in the U.K and has directed the company since its inception. As an actor his claims to fame include seven years as Ron Brownlow in 'Crossroads', several different characters in both 'Brookside' and 'Coronation Street' and many other TV plays and series including 'The Bill', 'Dr Who', 'The Onedin Line', 'Z Cars', 'Warship' and 'The Professionals' to name but a few.
He appeared in a recent episode of 'Silent Witness' for BBC TV, for whom he also appeared in two episodes of 'Bugs', and was seen recently in an episode of 'Peak Practice'. His films include 'Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back', 'A Bridge Too Far', 'Scum' and 'White Nights'. He has just finished filming on 'Captain Jack' with Bob Hoskins and Maureen Lipman.
Ian has produced seven plays and Musicals in the West End , nearly twenty plays on the touring circuit and is the author of several plays which have been broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Apart from Music Hall & Variety Shows he is an active producer of plays and seasonal attractions.
Morris Liston
Morris Liston was probably the first bearer of the name to settle and have a family in America. Descended from him and his wife Jane are thousands of Listons who reside in the United States today.
In 1665 Morris, a native of the British Isles, was given land in what is now Delaware for services to the British Crown and obtained 750-800 acres to the north of Ducks Creek. Over the coming years Morris bought land to add to his own.
Little is presently known about him other than he was a devout Quaker and possibly a widower when he arrived in the New World. He had three children John, Sarah and Edmund.
Morris Liston died in February 1709 and is buried at the Old Burial Ground in New Castle County.
Melba Liston
Melba Liston was a true jazz pioneer. She was a gifted trombonist who made her mark as one of the few women to succeed as a jazz instrumentalist, composer and arranger.
She was born Melba Doretta Liston on January 13 1926 in Kansas City, MO but grew up in Los Angeles. With encouragement from her family and music teachers she began to develop her talent in playing, writing and arranging.
In the 1940s,'50s and '60s, she played in the big bands of Gerald Wilson, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones and Clark Terry. As an accomplished arranger, Melba brought musical life to the songs of artists from Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Duke Ellington, Art Blakey and Milt Jackson to Randy Weston, Gloria Lynne and even Marvin Gaye, to name a few.
One jazz critic described her as "Tall, beautiful, black, has a smile radiant enough to light up the first six rows, and plays the trombone like an angel."
She led her own group in the 70s and 80s until a stroke in 1985 left her partially paralysed. Unable to play anymore and despite her physical limitations, Melba still created rich musical settings for various artists up until her death in April 1999.
John Liston
John Liston (1776-1846) was the leading comedy actor of his day. He played first in the North of England then later at the Haymarket Theatre. The following year he headlined at Covent Garden.
He acted a large number of comic parts of which his most successful was 'Paul Pry'. His wife was a successful comic actress and singer in her own right.
After his death, 'The Stage' publication said of him "Liston belonged to farce rather than comedy. He suffered attacks of the nerves and excited more laughter than he ever enjoyed himself."
In his will, John Liston left £40,000, plate, jewellery, pictures and horses.
and last but by no means least...
Professor David Joel Liston, OBE (1914-1990). Was a Major in the Army during WWII and became Industrial advisor to the UK government in the late 1960's. He was also a visiting Professor and member of the European Business School.
Terence Kevin Liston, MA, LLB (1903-1993). Irish Lawyer called to Bar in 1928, Inner Bar 1944 and elected to Bench of Kings Inns in 1951.
Lt. Col. William Glen Liston, MD (1873-1950). Bacteriologist and consulting Physician.
John James Liston. Seven times mayor of Williamstown, Australia, the President and founder of the Victoria Football League, and President of the Victorian Racing Commission. The J.J. Liston Stakes are still a prominent race there.
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