#1Famous people · Northampton
Scientists and doctors stand out among the 48 famous people born in Northampton
Articles in 39 languages make the American writer Lydia Davis the best known. Between 1920 and 1969, 26 were born, the most of any period. The list comes to 15.5 for every 10,000 residents, against 4.5 in the typical town in Massachusetts. Only 14 of the 335 towns in Massachusetts with anyone on record list more.
Born here
48
notable people
Best known
Lydia Davis
in 39 Wikipedia languages
First
1706
Seth Pomeroy
Youngest
1987
Tochi Onyebuchi
Most common field
Writing & Arts
11 people
Also called it home
10
notable residents
What stands out about Northampton’s famous people
★ What stands out · Known for
What Northampton is known for
The field furthest above the usual share is scientists and doctors, at 2.8 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 Northampton
All three are writers and artists.
#1
#2Writing & Arts
William Dwight Whitney
1827–1894American orientalist, linguist and lexicographer
24 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
#3Writing & Arts
A. O. Scott
born 1966American journalist and film critic
22 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Through the years
When Northampton’s famous people were born
Births peak in the 1940s, with 12 people born in that decade.
Writing & ArtsPolitics & LawScience & MedicineSportsFilm, TV & StageMusicNotableMilitary
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
Everyone
Everyone else born in Northampton
A further 45 follow, born between 1706 and 1987.
William Yorzyk
1933–2020American swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, former world record-holder
SportsWikipedia ↗
Caleb Strong
1745–1819Massachusetts lawyer, governor, and US senator 1745-1819
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Anne Lamy Mook
born 1947American politician who served in the Vermont House of Representatives
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Ebenezer Allen
1743–1806American soldier, pioneer, and member of the Vermont General Assembly
MilitaryWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
A chosen home
Also called Northampton home
Born elsewhere, they lived here: 10 in all, led by Grace Coolidge.
William Francis Ganong
1864–1941Canadian botanist, historian and cartographer
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
The town’s pick
Town Square →Who’s the most famous person from Northampton?
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Next door
Famous people from the towns next door
Of the towns nearby, Hadley lists the most people: 8.
From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Northampton 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)
- Lydia Davis: kellywritershouse, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- William Dwight Whitney: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- A. O. Scott: FNPI, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- William Yorzyk: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Caleb Strong: Attributed to Gilbert Stuart, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Josiah Whitney: Silas Selleck, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Timothy Dwight IV: John Trumbull, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Stephen Dunne: Lewis Seiler (director of Doll Face), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Benjamin Tappan: Washington Blanchard, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Chauncey Wright: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Benjamin Smith Lyman: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Grace Coolidge: National Photo Company Collection, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Eric Carle: Fotopersbureau De Boer, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ocean Vuong: slowking4, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- William Francis Ganong: Eric Stahlberg, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Mary Dennett: Harris & Ewing, photographer, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Joseph Hooker: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Rodolphus Dickinson: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Horatio G. Knight: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons