Westminster Abbey politicians, doctors and scientists such as Isaac Newton, buried on 4 April 1727, Charles Darwin, buried on 26 April 1882, and Stephen Hawking, buried on 15 June 2018. Another was William Wilberforce who led the movement to abolish slavery in the United Kingdom and the Plantations, buried on 3 August 1833. Wilberforce was buried in the north transept, close to his friend, the former Prime Minister, William Pitt. During the early 20th century it became increasingly common to bury cremated remains rather than coffins in the abbey. In 1905 the actor Sir Henry Irving was cremated and his ashes buried
Alexander Fletcher (British politician) of the Exchequer Alistair Darling. Fletcher was Under-Secretary of State for Scotland from 1979 to 1983, and Minister for Corporate and Consumer Affairs 1983 to 1985. He died in Westminster but was returned to Edinburgh for burial. He and his wife are buried together in the 20th century (north) extension to Dean Cemetery in Edinburgh. Alexander Fletcher (British politician) Sir Alexander MacPherson Fletcher (26 August 1929 – 18 September 1989), sometimes known as Alex Fletcher, was a British Conservative Party politician. He was born in Greenock in western Scotland. He was married to Christine Anne Buchanan (1926-2008). Fletcher first stood