Ian Fleming, who actually had been a member of HM Secret Service, based his famous, 007 on two real people.
One was Sidney Reilly and the other was William Stephenson.
Sidney Reilly, who lived a fantastic life was murdered in 1925.
Reilly had been quite good friends with a diplomat and journalist named Sir Robert Bruce Lockhart. This gentleman later met and befriended Ian Fleming.
He recounted the adventures of Sidney Reilly, who was (and maybe still is) a legend in the British Secret Service.
Ian Fleming would later create his spy, ‘James Bond’ who would be multi-lingual, (like Reilly) fond of living, (as Reilly) a gambler, (like Reilly) and had many lovers.
But James Bond was not only based on Reilly. There was another influence in Ian Fleming’s life; that was, William Stephenson.
William Stephenson was a Canadian who in 1916 volunteered for service in the 101st Overseas Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and left for England.
He was sent into action after only five hours of flight instruction. However, he shot down 26 enemy planes (and won various service awards.)
Stephenson was later shot down and imprisoned and escaped.
However, while in custody he found a can-opener that had been patented only in Germany.
After the War, Stephenson gained the world wide patent and manufactured the can opener and became a millionaire.
Just before WWII, William Stephenson was in Germany doing business. He gathered intelligence on the Nazis which he sent to an unofficial intelligence network that reported directly to Winston Churchill.
In 1940 Churchill sent Stephenson, (code name ‘Intrepid’) to New York City as the British Passports Control Officer.
When America entered WWII William Stephenson was the British Security Coordinator; the Top Brit spy in America.
A special training base for spies called Camp X was set up in Canada by William Stephenson. It was there Ian Fleming did his spy training, and met Stephenson.
Ian Fleming, himself was recruited in 1939 by the director of Naval intelligence and given the code name of 17F. He would rise to Commander of the Unit.
What made the early Bond novels so popular was the sense of realism. But that was because besides two role models, Ian Fleming himself had been a spy.
What is the Main Cause of a Heart Attack? What is its Solution? A heart attack is the blockage of… Read More
In the vast economic arena, one term that often takes center stage, inciting extensive debates and discussions, is the "debt… Read More
De-Dollarization: The Changing Face of Global Finance The financial landscape is in a state of flux, with an intriguing economic… Read More
The curtains closed on a dramatic Bundesliga season with Bayern Munich standing tall once again, clinching their 11th straight title.… Read More
The Unfolding Story of Celine Dion's Health In recent news that has left fans across the globe stunned, iconic singer… Read More
As the echoes of the recent NBA season start to fade, the attention of enthusiasts is firmly glued to one… Read More
View Comments
I am always interested in James Bond facts and trivia. Was not aware the character was based on two real life spies. Always thought Fleming was drawing from his own experience in government intelligence. Don't remember where I came across this tidbit, but I think the name “James Bond” is a real person's name. But Ian Fleming did not know the person. He just happened to see the person's name written or displayed somewhere and thought it sounded perfect! :)
Fleming had a house in Jamaica, on the North Coast, (Goldeneye) where he wrote his novels. James Bond wrote a book about birds of Jamaica, which is where he got the name.
Thank you! I couldn't remember the story behind the name. I do remember the guy's wife was upset about it because life was never the same for the couple after Secret Agent 007 became so popular. :(
Fleming's house is still there and they named the little airport after him.
In fact, I have read that earlier Bond Movies and novels were more realistic. Later movies had Bond doing more unrealistic things.
When Ian Fleming wrote Bond; 50s/60s he didn't go too far beyond what he knew or what was possible. He wasn't writing fantasy fiction. When he died the 'franchise' continued getting more and more away from real.
wow, this is an awesome review of james bond, i always thaought the he was just a fictional character that doesn' exist at all.
anyway, james bond had been famous ever since the early 80s, when i was still a kiddo, mom loves james bond back then.
anymore real life story?
how about harry potter?
There is 'John Blackthorne' who I have written about and a real Robinson Crusoe.
The movies dramatized by the director on James Bond are the best movies of its age and people like it most and James Bond became famous all over the world but actually it is fictional character but most popular character on earth, known to the whole world people.
But The first official EON Productions James Bond film, Dr. No, was released in 1962. It opened with the gun barrel sequence that would become a trademark of the series. James Bond, played by stuntman Bob Simmons, walked along a white backdrop, shown through the view of a henchman's gun barrel.
Aware that he was being watched, Bond quickly turned and shot the assassin. Blood dripped down the screen, the gun barrel trailing off and opening to reveal the main titles.
It is not a total fantasy. Ian Fleming had been a spy, had heard of Sidney Reilly from his superiors, met William Stephenson.