Pennsylvania Famous People

Famous Americans: History and Biographies

Links to histories and biographies of the famous people of Pennsylvania. Many famous people of Pennsylvania have made significant contributions to the history of our nation and the state of Pennsylvania. These famous Americans, famous entertainers, famous players, famous scientist, famous singers, famous statesmen, famous women, heroes, great explorers, and others Pennsylvania famous Americans have all made Pennsylvania their home. This list includes Pennsylvania historical figures, celebrities and those individuals of Pennsylvania who have influenced the lives of others.

• Edward Goodrich Acheson (1856 - 1931) Notable engineer and inventor; born in Washington.
• Louisa May Alcott (1832 - 1888) Novelist.  She wrote Little Women (1868-69); born in Germantown.
• James Buchanan (1791 - 1868) The 15th president of the US; born in Mercersburg.
• Alexander Calder (1898 - 1976) Famous sculptor; born in Philadelphia.
• Rachel Carson (1907 - 1964) Biologist, author; born in Springdale.
• Bill Cosby (1937 - ) Actor.  He was a stand-up comedian and starred in his own sit-com; born in Philadelphia.
• Martha Graham (1895 - 1991) Dancer and choreographer. She choreographed and danced in the ballet Appalachian Spring; born in Allegheny. 
• Robinson Jeffers (1887 - 1962) Poet; born in Pittsburgh.
• Tara Lipinski (1982 - ) Figure skater who won the 1998 women's figure skating gold medal at the Olympics in Nagano, becoming the youngest in history (15 yrs., 7 mos.); born in Philadelphia.
• Arnold Palmer (1929 - ) Famous golfer; born in Latrobe.
• Betsy Ross (1752 - 1836) She was reported to have made the first American Flag; lived in Philadelphia.
• Andrew Wyeth (1917 - ) Famous painter; born in Chadds Ford.

More Famous People of Pennsylvania

• Maxwell Anderson playwright, Atlantic
• Samuel Barber composer, West Chester
• John Barrymore actor, Philadelphia
• Donald Barthelme author, Philadelphia
• Stephen Vincent Benet poet, story writer, Bethlehem
• Daniel Boone frontiersman, Reading
• Mary Cassatt painter, Allegheny
• George Catlin indian expert, poet, Wilkes-Barre
• Henry Steele Commager historian, Pittsburgh
• Stuart Davis painter, Philadelphia
• Walter E. Diemer inventor, Philadelphia
• Jimmy Dorsey band leader, Shenandoah
• Tommy Dorsey band leader, Mahanoy Plane
• Oliver Evans inventor, Philadelphia
• W. C. Fields comedian, Philadelphia
• Stephen Foster composer, Pittsburgh
• Robert Fulton inventor, Lancaster County
• Henry George economist, Philadelphia
• Alexander Haig secretary of state, Bala-Cynwyd
• William Edward Hanford inventor, Bristol
• Marilyn Horne mezzo-soprano, Bradford
• Lee Iacocca auto executive, Allentown
• Reggie Jackson baseball player, Wyncote
• Gene Kelly dancer, actor, Pittsburgh
• Jim Kelly football player, East Brady
• Gelsey Kirkland ballerina, Bethlehem
• Stephanie Louise Kwolek inventor, New Kensington
• S. S. Kresge merchant, Bald Mount
• Mario Lanza actor, singer, Philadelphia
• Tara Lipinski figure skater, Philadelphia
• George C. Marshall five-star general, Uniontown
• George McClellan general, Philadelphia
• Margaret Mead anthropologist, Philadelphia
• Andrew Mellon financier, Pittsburgh
• Tom Mix actor, Mix Run
• Hezekiah Niles journalist, Jeffers Ford
• Arnold Palmer golfer, Youngstown
• Robert E. Peary explorer, Cresson
• Man Ray painter, photographer, Philadelphia
• Mary Roberts Rinehart author, Pittsburgh
• B. F. Skinner psychologist, Susquehanna
• John Sloan painter, Loch Haven
• Gertrude Stein author, Allegheny
• James Stewart actor, Indiana
• George R. Stibitz inventor, York
• John Updike author, Shillington
• Honus Wagner baseball player, Carnegie
• Fred Waring band leader, Tyrone
• Ethel Waters singer, actress, Chester
• Anthony Wayne military officer, Waynesboro