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Famous people · Cheshire

Leaders stand out among the 25 famous people born in Cheshire

James Van Der Beek, the American actor, is the most widely known, written about in 55 languages. The largest group, 8, was born in the early republic. Per head, the list is long: 8.6 for every 10,000 residents, where the typical town in Connecticut has 2.9. 6 of them were born before independence, the first Abraham Beach in 1740.

#1 best knownJames Van Der BeekFilm, TV & Stage · 1977–2026
+21more
Born here
25
notable people
Best known
James Van Der Beek
in 55 Wikipedia languages
First
1740
Abraham Beach
Youngest
2002
Sabrina Cass
Most common field
Politics & Law
8 people
Also called it home
2
notable residents

What stands out about Cheshire’s famous people

★ What stands out · Through the years

When Cheshire’s famous people were born

Births peak in the 1770s, with 4 people born in that decade.

Colonial daysA new nationMills & railroadsThe American centuryToday175018001850190019502000Seabury FordJames Van Der BeekHarvey C. Barnum, Jr.
Politics & LawSportsWriting & ArtsMilitaryNotableFilm, TV & StageFaithMusicBusiness

Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.

The best known

Born in Cheshire

Three names lead: James Van Der Beek (55 languages), John Frederick Kensett (26) and Legs McNeil (11).

James Van Der Beek#1
Film, TV & Stage

James Van Der Beek

1977–2026

American actor

55 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
John Frederick Kensett#2
Writing & Arts

John Frederick Kensett

1816–1872

American artist

26 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Legs McNeil#3
Writing & Arts

Legs McNeil

born 1956

American writer

11 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Known for

What Cheshire is known for

Cheshire has 3.4× the usual share of soldiers and sailors.

The usual town: the share across everyone born in the towns gathered so far. Tap a field to see its people.

Everyone

Everyone else born in Cheshire

A further 22 follow, born between 1740 and 2002.

Samuel A. Foot

Samuel A. Foot

1780–1846

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Seabury Ford

Seabury Ford

1801–1855

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Harvey C. Barnum, Jr.

Harvey C. Barnum, Jr.

born 1940

Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient

Matt Generous

Matt Generous

born 1985

American ice hockey player

Henry Washington Benham

Henry Washington Benham

1813–1884

Union Army General

Peter Hitchcock

Peter Hitchcock

1781–1853

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
SC

Sabrina Cass

born 2002

Brazilian freestyle skier

Amos Doolittle

Amos Doolittle

1754–1832

American artist

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
GH

George Hall

1770–1840

American politician, New York

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Micah Brooks

Micah Brooks

1775–1857

United States general

Rollin Carolas Mallary

Rollin Carolas Mallary

1784–1831

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
SP

Sherman Page

1779–1853

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
JS

Jan Swantek

1933–2022

Polish Catholic prelate

Abraham Beach

Abraham Beach

1740–1828

American Episcopalian clergyman

PM

Peter Rushton Maverick

1755–1811

American silversmith, 1755-1811

ED

Eliakim Doolittle

1772–1850

American composer and teacher

George A. Jarvis

George A. Jarvis

1806–1893

American businessman and philanthropist

RR

Ray Reckmack

1914–1982

American football player

Z

Zaldy

born 1966

Filipino-American fashion designer

A chosen home

Also called Cheshire home

Notable people Wikidata lists as living in Cheshire, though born elsewhere.

CM

Chris Murphy

born 1973

American lawyer and politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
JC

John Chamberlain

1903–1995

American journalist (critic, columnist, editor)

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
The town’s pick

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Next door

Famous people from the towns next door

The most names next door are in Waterbury: 59.

From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Cheshire and whose English Wikipedia article agrees, ranked by how many Wikipedia languages cover each person. People known mainly for crimes, and adult performers, aren’t listed. “The usual town” = everyone born in the towns gathered so far.

Photo credits (22)