#1Politics & Law
W. E. B. Du Bois
1868–1963American sociologist and activist
74 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Famous people · Great Barrington
Scientists and doctors stand out among the 26 famous people born in Great Barrington
At the top of the list is the American sociologist and activist W. E. B. Du Bois, covered in 74 languages. Behind the leader come Laura Secord and Anson Jones. 10 of them were born in the age of mills and railroads, more than in any other period. Ben Passmore, born in 1983, is the youngest, and John Allen, born in 1763, the first on record.
Born here
26
notable people
Best known
W. E. B. Du Bois
in 74 Wikipedia languages
First
1763
John Allen
Youngest
1983
Ben Passmore
Most common field
Politics & Law
10 people
What stands out about Great Barrington’s famous people
★ What stands out · Known for
What Great Barrington is known for
No other field is as far above the usual share as scientists and doctors, at 3.2 times.
The usual town: the share across everyone born in the towns gathered so far. Tap a field to see its people.
The best known
Born in Great Barrington
W. E. B. Du Bois leads with articles in 74 languages, ahead of Laura Secord (21) and Anson Jones (14).
#1
#2
#3Through the years
When Great Barrington’s famous people were born
Count by decade and the 1860s come out on top, with 4 births.
Politics & LawScience & MedicineWriting & ArtsSportsNotableMusicBusinessFilm, TV & Stage
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
Everyone
Everyone else born in Great Barrington
Another 23, 8 of them leaders.
Lionel Barthold
1926–2025American electrical engineer and founder of Power Technologies Inc.
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
The town’s pick
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Next door
Famous people from the towns next door
The best known from each town bordering Great Barrington.
From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Great Barrington 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 (19)
- W. E. B. Du Bois: James E. Purdy / Adam Cuerden, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Laura Secord: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Anson Jones: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ed Mann: Felvegi Andrea, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
- May Edward Chinn: E. F. Foley, N. Y., Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Charles A. Sumner: Frontispiece of 1882's "Shorthand and Reporting", by Charles Allen Sumner., Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Harold Stanley: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- James S. Parker: Harris & Ewing, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ben Passmore: Small Press Expo, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Benjamin Downing: Benjamin_Downing,_2008.jpg: Jeremy Goldstein derivative work: Designate, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Calvin Jones: Marshall DeLancey Haywood, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Cynthia Roberts Gorton: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Mark H. Sibley: Charles F. Milliken, author. Lewis Historical Publishing Co. (New York, NY), publisher., Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Guy R. Pelton: Jeremiah M. Pelton, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jim Garry: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Marcus T. Reynolds: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Cyrus West Field: Napoleon Sarony, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Henry V. Boynton: Mathew Benjamin Brady / Levin Corbin Handy, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Barnabas Bidwell: John Brewster, Jr., Public domain, Wikimedia Commons