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Famous people · Provincetown

Provincetown is the birthplace of 8 famous people

Most widely known is Donald Baxter MacMillan, the American explorer and sailor, with articles in 8 languages. The list comes to 21.6 for every 10,000 residents, against 4.5 in the typical town in Massachusetts. The earliest on the list is Susan J. Swift Steele, born in 1822, and the youngest Frances L. Whedon, born in 1902. More are soldiers and sailors than anything else, 3 in all.

#1 best knownDonald Baxter MacMillanSports · 1874–1970
+4more
Born here
8
notable people
Best known
Donald Baxter MacMillan
in 8 Wikipedia languages
First
1822
Susan J. Swift Steele
Youngest
1902
Frances L. Whedon
Most common field
Military
3 people
Also called it home
3
notable residents

What stands out about Provincetown’s famous people

The best known

Born in Provincetown

First, Donald Baxter MacMillan (8 languages), then Nehemiah Dyer (3) and William Emery Nickerson (3).

Donald Baxter MacMillan#1
Sports

Donald Baxter MacMillan

1874–1970

American explorer and sailor

8 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Nehemiah Dyer#2
Military

Nehemiah Dyer

1839–1910

United States Navy admiral

3 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
William Emery Nickerson#3
Science & Medicine

William Emery Nickerson

1853–1930

American engineer and inventor

3 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Through the years

When Provincetown’s famous people were born

The 1870s saw the most births of any decade: 2.

A new nationMills & railroads180018501900Isaac MayoDonald Baxter MacMillanFrances L. WhedonNehemiah DyerWilliam Emery Nickerson
MilitaryScience & MedicineSportsPolitics & LawWriting & Arts

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

Known for

What Provincetown is known for

The field furthest above the usual share is soldiers and sailors, at 10.5 times.

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 Provincetown

A further 5 follow, born between 1822 and 1902.

Frances L. Whedon

Frances L. Whedon

1902–1998

American scientist

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Isaac Mayo

Isaac Mayo

1826–1912

American coast guard surfman

RB

Ralph S. Bauer

1867–1941

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Susan J. Swift Steele

Susan J. Swift Steele

1822–1895

American social reformer

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
William Henry Burt

William Henry Burt

1876–1940

U.S. Army officer

A chosen home

Also called Provincetown home

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

Andrew Sullivan

Andrew Sullivan

born 1963

English-American journalist, writer, blogger

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
LF

Lola Flash

born 1959

American large-format photographer

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
FW

Ferol Sibley Warthen

1890–1986

American painter and graphic artist

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
The town’s pick

Who’s the most famous person from Provincetown?

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Next door

Famous people from the towns next door

Nearby, Truro has the most on record, with 2.

From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Provincetown 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 (9)