#1Famous people · Salem
46 famous people were born in Salem, more of them scientists and doctors than in most towns
At the top of the list is the American author Nathaniel Hawthorne, covered in 117 languages. Benjamin Peirce is second and Timothy Pickering third. The earliest on the list is John Hathorne, born in 1641, and the youngest Seth Moulton, born in 1978. Per head, the list is long: 10.3 for every 10,000 residents, where the typical town in Massachusetts has 4.5.
Born here
46
notable people
Best known
Nathaniel Hawthorne
in 117 Wikipedia languages
First
1641
John Hathorne
Youngest
1978
Seth Moulton
Most common field
Writing & Arts
11 people
Also called it home
3
notable residents
What stands out about Salem’s famous people
Known worldwideNathaniel Hawthorne has an article in 117 languages, more than anyone else from here.A town of scientists and doctorsScientists and doctors make up 9 of the 46, 3.3 times the usual share.A chosen home3 more notable people chose to live in Salem, including Mary Rowlandson.46 notable peopleSalem lists 46 notable people, more than most towns.
★ What stands out · The best known
Born in Salem
The three are covered in 117, 32 and 30 languages: Nathaniel Hawthorne, Benjamin Peirce and Timothy Pickering.
#1
#2
#3Known for
What Salem is known for
No other field is as far above the usual share as scientists and doctors, at 3.3 times.
The usual town: the share across everyone born in the towns gathered so far. Tap a field to see its people.
Through the years
When Salem’s famous people were born
No decade has more births than the 1960s, at 5.
Writing & ArtsScience & MedicinePolitics & LawFilm, TV & StageSportsNotableMusicFaithMilitaryBusiness
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
Everyone
Everyone else born in Salem
Another 43, the earliest born in 1641.
Nathaniel Bowditch
1773–1838American astronomer and mathematician who founded modern navigation
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Thomas A. Watson
1854–1934American inventor and businessperson; assistant to Alexander Graham Bell
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
John Hathorne
1641–1717Salem merchant, magistrate, and military leader; judge of the Salem witch trials
BusinessWikipedia ↗
Mary Warren
1674–1693American colonist, maidservant, and Salem witch trial accuser/accused
NotableWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
A chosen home
Also called Salem home
Born elsewhere, they lived here: 3 in all, led by Mary Rowlandson.
Mary Rowlandson
1635–1711American woman captured by Native Americans during King Philip's War
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Lucy Hiller Lambert Cleveland
1780–1866Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
The town’s pick
Town Square →Who’s the most famous person from Salem?
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Next door
Famous people from the towns next door
Of the towns nearby, 4 have famous names listed.
From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Salem 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 (24)
- Nathaniel Hawthorne: Mathew Benjamin Brady, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Benjamin Peirce: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Timothy Pickering: Charles Willson Peale, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- William Hickling Prescott: Southworth & Hawes, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Christopher Cassidy: NASA/Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Andy Buckley: Jeterfantwo, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Frank Weston Benson: Smithsonian Institution from United States, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Nathaniel Bowditch: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Seth Moulton: United States Govrnment, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ernest Fenollosa: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Patricia S. Goldman-Rakic: Levitt P, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Paul Douglas: US Government, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Frederick Townsend Ward: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Maria Susanna Cummins: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- John Larch: NBC Television, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Sarah Parker Remond: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Thomas A. Watson: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- William Crowninshield Endicott: George Bernard Butler, Jr. (1838–1907), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Benjamin Goodhue: Bowditch, Charles P. 1842-1921,, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Benjamin Williams Crowninshield: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Mary Rowlandson: Coverly/Rowlandson, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- David Morse: Greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Elbridge Gerry: James Bogle, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Mabel Wheeler Daniels: Radcliffe College, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons