People with significant historical connections to the area:
- Sir William Cockburn of Langton was killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513
- Rev Alexander Hume was a poet who served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, who died in 1609
- Richard Hillary was a RAF fighter pilot in the Battle of Britain, who died in 1943 whilst based at RAF Charterhall
- Polish troops in Berwickshire in the 1940s and Wojtek the Bear
- Admiral Sir Bertram Home Ramsay was a Royal Navy officer responsible for the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940, and was Commander‑in‑Chief of Allied naval forces on D‑Day in 1944. He died in 1945 in France. A memorial museum in Leitholm is open daily during the summer, details here
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Sir Jock McEwen was a poet, politician and laird of Marchmont, who died in 1962
- Jim Clark was a Formula One racing driver, who won two World Championships in 1963 and 1965, and was killed in a racing accident in Germany in 1968 (museum and a trail)
- Sir Robin McEwen was a lawyer, artist and laird of Marchmont, who died in 1980
- Rory and Alex McEwen were brothers and acclaimed musicians and TV presenters. Rory was also a famous botanical artist (link). Rory died in 1982, and Alex in 2008
- Hugo Burge was a travel executive, internet entrepreneur and investor. In 2007, he bought Marchmont House, restored it, and founded an arts and crafts foundation. Hugo died suddenly in 2023 (moving tribute: here)