Who is Charles Bronson, the Prisoner? Charles Bronson, often referred to as Britain’s most notorious prisoner, is a man whose name has become synonymous with infamy in the UK. Born Michael Gordon Peterson in 1952 in Luton, England, he later adopted the name Charles Bronson, inspired by the Hollywood actor, during his brief career as a bare-knuckle boxer. Bronson's notoriety stems not only from his criminal activities but from his behavior during his incarceration. Initially jailed in 1974 for ar