This work draws together a series of pen-portraits of some 40 individuals who helped shape the foundations of English prehistoric and later study, mainly during the 18th and 19th centuries. They represented a diverse cross-section of contemporary society including army officers, churchmen, country squires and gentry, suicides, bankrupts, a probable illegitimate Royal, farmers, tradesmen, plus a scion of the nobility and a superintendent of a 'lunatic asylum.' The list is of necessity subjective, as it seemed necessary, wherever possible, to have an image of each individual. As well as portraits, short biographies of each person are embellished with appropriate illustrations, including digs, artifacts, archaeological sites and some of their more interesting tombs, together with other images connected with their activities. The work will hopefully stand as an instructive and entertaining 'who's-who' of these early activists, together with an assessment of their importance in the study of the origins of English archaeology.