The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has been the home of many remarkable people. A diverse group of leaders, heroes, artists, scientists and innovators have contributed to Pennsylvania and to the world. This list includes those born in Pennsylvania, as well as, those who made a noteworthy contribution to society while living in Pennsylvania. The list numbers over 800 Pennsylvanians. The links are to other web sites where you can learn something about each individual.

It honors the courageous sacrifices of over 290 brave Pennsylvanians in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Many Pennsylvania public school students research famous Pennsylvanians. I challenge them to research someone who contributed to their locality or lived in their county. Publish the information in a class website to help others learn more about that special person from your local area. Local and county historical societies can be very helpful in locating facts, figures and even photos.

Helpful hint.
Use the browser Find command to scan the text for a person or town, rather than read the whole page.

To do this:
Go Edit ... Find. Enter a name or county - click Find.The first occurrence of the text will be highlighted.

Edit ... Find again will take you to the next occurrence of the word.

A

Edward Abbey author

Lynn Abraham, former district attorney

Elliot Abrams, meteorologist site 1

Edwin Austin Abbey artist

Edward G. Acheson - scientist/inventor site 1

Benjamin A. Adams Carnegie Hero

Sgt. Brandon Adams Died in Iraq

Sgt. 1st Class Brent A. Adams KIA Iraq site 1

Elizabeth Edith Enke Adams actress

Mary Ann Adams nurse

Robert Adrain mathematician

Capt. Tristan N. Aitken KIA Iraq site 1

Louisa May Alcott author site 1, site 2

Allaquippa site 2

1st Lt. Louis E. Allen, KIA Iraq site 1

Richard Allen leader/minister site 1 , site 2

John Allison soldier/politician

Mary Johnson Ambler activist site 1

Donetta W. Ambrose - chief judge

Amish People

Kristine M. Anderson environmental activist

Laurie Halse Anderson author site1

Marion Anderson - vocalist site1

Maxwell Anderson - playwright site 1

Kurt Angle athlete

Sgt Jan Argonish, KIA Afghanistan

Frances Arnold, Nobel Prize winner - Chemistry

Henry Harley Arnold aviator

Sgt. Daniel L. Arnold KIA Iraq site 1

Margaret Shippen Arnold traitor site1 site 2

George Washington Atherton education leader

John James Audubon artist

Tony Auth artist, illustrator, cartoonist

Frankie Avalon singer

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County

Home, Indiana

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Washington, Washington

Sunbury, Northumberland

Hollidaysburg, Blair

West View, Allegheny

Kingston, Luzerne

Reading, Berks

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

State College, Centre

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Beaver

Milford, Pike

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Greencastle, Franklin

Ambler, Montgomery

New Kensington, Westmoreland

many areas of the Commonwealth

Kersey, Elk

Ambler, Montgomery

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Atlantic, Crawford

Pittsburgh, Allegheny

Scranton, Lackawanna

Pittsburgh, Allegheny

Gladwyn, Montgomery

Montrose, Susquehanna

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

State College, Centre

Mill Grove, Montgomery

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

B

Edmund Bacon - Urban Planner site 1, site 2

Kevin Bacon actor/musician

Sara Franklin Bache patriot

John Backus inventor/mathematician

Sgt Andrew J. Baddick KIA Iraq site 1

Philip Edward Baer opera singer

Pearl Bailey - singer, dancer, actress

Sgt Sherwood R Baker KIA Iraq site 1, site 2,

Cynthia A. Baldwin lawyer/judge/PA Supreme Court Justice site 1

Senior Airman Bryan Bell, KIA Afghanistan

Trooper Scott R. Ball KIA Afghanistan

Kelly L. Banach judge

George Bancroft actor site 1

Samuel Barber composer

George Barbier actor

George Grey Barnard artist

Francis V. Barnes, educator

LCpl Aric J. Barr KIA Iraq site 1 site 2

Chuck Barris producer

Cdre John Barry, Naval leader during Revolutionary War

John Barrymore - site 1 actor

John Barth, author

Donald Barthelme author

Susan Campbell Bartoletti author site 1

John Bartram father of American Botany site 1

William Bartram ornithologist

Florence Bascom geologist site 1 , site 2

Ann Bates Schoolteacher and spy

Staff Sgt. Mark C. Baum KIA Iraq site 1

SGT. Ronald E. Baum KIA Iraq site 1

Nathan Bauman artist

Bruce Baumgartner, gold medal athlete

James A. Beaver soldier/politician

Thomas Beaver ironwork

Frances Bear farm preservation activist

Linda Bebko-Jones politician

William Bechtel Environmental Educator of the year 2006

Basse A. Beck author/environmentalist

Alan Beckwith - actor/aerospace engineer site 1

Anne Beiler founder pretzel business

LCpl Jacob Beisel, KIA Iraq site 1

Donald Bellisario - TV producer/writer

Maria Bello - actor

Elrey Casanova Belmonti dancer

Stephen Vincent Benét poet

Dr. Stephen Benkovic, National Medal of Science - PSU Prof.

SGT. Keith A. Bennett, KIA Iraq, site 1

Barbara Benglian PA Teacher of the Year 2006

Jan and Stan Berenstain authors/illustrators site 1

1st Lt David R Bernstein KIA Iraq site 1

Lt.C Richard Berrettini died of injuries sustained in Afghanistan

Sgt. Allan R. Bevington KIA Iraq site 1

D. J. Bibow manufacturer

Joseph R. Biden Jr. politician site 1

William Bigler politician site 1

John Billingsley actor site 1

Edwin Binney inventor/innovator site 1

Ed Binns actor

Cindy Birdsong vocal artist

Louise Williams Bishop politician

Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin F. Bitner KIA Afghanistan

Mary Adams "Mimi" Bitze philanthropist

George G. Blaisdell inventor

Karl Blankenship author environmentalist site 1

Philip Bliss gospel music composer

Marian Block physician

Charles Blockson, black historian

Guion S. Bluford, Jr. astronaut

Nellie Bly site 1 journalist

Charles L. Blockson author historian site 1

Rachel Littler Bodley chemist

Martin Boehm minister

David Bohm quantum physicist

Danny Bonaduce entertainer

Joseph Bonsall, tenor

Marcia Bonta nature writer site 1, site 2

SGT Stevon Booker KIA Iraq site 1

Zane Booker dancer

Daniel Boone explorer site 1, site 2, site 3

Dana H. Born Dean of USAF Academy

Capt. David Boris KIA Afghanistan site 1

Lisa M. Boscola politician PA 18th Senate District

Henry Bouquet soldier

Pfc. Matthew C. Bowe KIA Iraq site 1

Fleming C. Bower Carnegie Hero

Sgt Douglas J. Bull KIA Afghanistan

David Bustill Bowser artist site 1

Denis Boyce urban activist

Peter Boyle actor site 1

Spc Edward W. Brabazon KIA Iraq site 1

Battalion Chief Charles G. Brace firefighter site 1, site 2

Hugh Henry Brackenridge orator/judge site 1

Samuel Brady frontier scout

Ed Bradley reporter/writer site 1 site 2

John Alfred Brashear scientist/humanitarian

Jim Brett - environmentalist

Ralph Elwood Brock - forester

Charles Bronson actor

Clement Brooke ironmaster

Irma Broun conservationist

Maurice Broun conservationst

Louise Tanner Brown - civil rights activist

Sgt Andrew W. Brown KIA Iraq site 1

Pfc. Matthew W. Brown KIA Afghanistan

Clifford Brown musician

Joan Myers Brown dancer/choreographer

John Brown abolitionist

Marc Brown author & illustrator of Arthur books site 1

Spc. Oliver J. Brown KIA Iraq site 1

Pfc Timmy R. Brown KIA Iraq site 1

Sgt1st Daniel Brozovich KIA Iraq

Jimmy Bruno musician

Kobe Bryant, athlete

Sgt John T. Bubeck KIA Iraq

James Buchanan site 1 , site 2 politician site 3 President USA

Pearl Buck, author

Sgt. 1st Class Raymond R. Buchan, KIA Iraq site 1

Sgt Ernest G Bucklew, KIA Iraq site 1

Ole Bull, violinist

Ned Buntline, author

Marisa Burke, broadcast journalist

Lori Burkholder, newscaster

Harry Thacker Burleigh composer site 1

Steve Burns, Blues Clues star

MGen. Smedley Butler USMC, Awarded Congression Medal of Honor Twice!

Top of page

County

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Jim Thorpe, Carbon

Greencastle, Franklin

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Plymouth, Luzerne

White Oak, Allegheny

Erie

South Middleton Twp., Cumberland

Lehigh

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

West Chester, Chester

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Bellefonte, Centre

Kintnersville, Bucks

Allegheny, Allegheny

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

State College, Centre

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Harrisburg, Dauphin

Darby, Delaware

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Bryn Mawr, Delaware

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Morgantown, Berks

Hollidaysburg, Blair

Jonestown, Lebanon

Edinboro, Erie

Millerstown, Perry

Danville, Montour

Lancaster, Lancaster

Erie, Erie

Selinsgrove, Snyder

Sunbury, Northumberland

Tyrone, Blair

Gap, Lancaster

Lackawaxen, Pike

North Charleroi, Washington

Norristown, Montgomery

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Bethlehem, Lehigh

State College, Centre

Lancaster, Lancaster

Upper Darby, Delaware

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Phoenixville, Chester

Eldred, McKean & Dupont, Luzerne

Beaver Falls, Beaver

Corry, Erie

Scranton, Lackawanna

Spring Township, Perry

Media, Delaware

Easton, Northampton

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Greencastle, Franklin

Hampton, Adams

Bradford, McKean

Seven Valleys, York

Rome, Bradford

Allegheny

Norristown, Montgomery

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Apollo, Armstrong

Norristown & Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Willow Street, Lancaster

Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne

Broomall, Delaware

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Tyrone, Blair

Apollo, Armstrong

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Reading, Berks

Lancaster, Lancaster

Pottsville, Schuylkill

Bethlehem, Northampton

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Coraopolis

Lewisburg, Union

Wilkes Barre, Luzerne

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Fishtown, Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Bensalem, Bucks

Pittsburgh, Allegheny

York

Brady's Bend, Clarion

Philadelphia

Brownsville, Fayette

Shillington, Berks

Pottsville, Schuylkill

Ehrenfeld, Cambria

Hopewell, Chester

Hawk Mountain, Berks

Hawk Mountain, Berks

Beaver, Beaver

Pleasant Mount, Wayne

Zelienople, Butler

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

New Richmond, Crawford

Erie, Erie

Athens, Bradford

Conway, Beaver

Pittsburgh, Allegheny

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Collegeville, Montgomery

Cove Gap, Fulton

Hilltown Township, Bucks

Johnston

Enon Valley, Lawrence

Potter

Danville, Montour

Danville, Montour

Middletown, Dauphin & Lancaster, Lancaster

Erie, Erie

Boyertown, Berks

West Chester, Chester