South Carolina Famous People

Famous Americans: History and Biographies

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

• James F. Byrnes (1879 - 1972) Senator, Secretary of State, Governorn; born in Charleton.
• Chubby Checker (1941 - ) -  Best known for his song "The Twist"; born in Spring Gulley.
• Mark Clark (1896 - 1984) US Army general that led Allied troops during World War II; president of the Citadel; lived in Charleston.
• Alex English (1954 - ) - The NBA's most prolific scorer during the 1980's; born in Columbia.
• Althea Gibson (1927 - ) First African American woman to win Wimbledon and US National tennis championships; born in Silver.
• Dizzy Gillespie (1917 - 1993) Trumpet player who developed the bebop jazz style during the 1940s; born in Cheraw.
• Andrew Jackson (1767 - 1845) The 7th US president; born in the Waxhaws area.
• Jesse Jackson (1941 - ) Civil rights leader; born in Greenville.
• Joe Frazier (1944 - ) 1964 Olympic heavyweight champion.  He was heavyweight champion from 1970-1973; born in Beaufort.

• Francis Marion (1721 - 1795) Known as the "Swamp Fox" for his strategy of fighting the British during the Revolutionary War; born in Winyah.

• Robert Mills (1781 - 1855) Designer of the Washington Monument in Washington D.C.; born in Charleston.
• Julia Peterkin (1880 - 1961) Novelist.  She was the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Scarlet Sister Mary in 1929.
• Vanna White (1957 - ) Famous for turning letters on television's Wheel of Fortune; born in Conway

More Famous People of South Carolina

• Whispering Bill Anderson songwriter, Columbia
• Bernard Baruch statesman, Camden
• Mary McLeod Bethune educator, Mayesville
• James Godfather Brown singer, Barnwell
• Joseph H. Burckhalter inventor, Columbia
• John C. Calhoun statesman, Calhoun Mills
• DuBose Heyward poet, playwright, author, Charleston
• Charlayne Hunter-Gault journalist, Due West
• Eartha Kitt singer, North
• Robert Evander McNair governor, Cades
• Ronald McNair astronaut, Lake City
• John Rutledge jurist, Charleston
• Strom Thurmond politician, Edgefield
• Charles Hard Townes physicist, Greenville
• William Westmoreland army chief of staff, Spartanburg