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Famous people · Washington

Scientists and doctors stand out among the 26 famous people born in Washington

Articles in 22 languages make the American test pilot Joseph Albert Walker the best known. Over 203 years of births, the list goes from Joseph Vance (1786) to Andrew Sweat (1989). 10 of them were born between 1920 and 1969, more than in any other period. Births since 1970 account for 3 of the names.

#1 best knownJoseph Albert WalkerScience & Medicine · 1921–1966
+22more
Born here
26
notable people
Best known
Joseph Albert Walker
in 22 Wikipedia languages
First
1786
Joseph Vance
Youngest
1989
Andrew Sweat
Most common field
Sports
6 people

What stands out about Washington’s famous people

★ What stands out · Known for

What Washington is known for

Set against the usual town, scientists and doctors come out 3.2 times as common.

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 Washington

Two of the three are scientists and doctors.

Joseph Albert Walker#1
Science & Medicine

Joseph Albert Walker

1921–1966

American test pilot

22 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Edward Goodrich Acheson#2
Science & Medicine

Edward Goodrich Acheson

1856–1931

American chemist

21 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
BY#3
Film, TV & Stage

Bud Yorkin

1926–2015

American producer, director, and screenwriter

20 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Through the years

When Washington’s famous people were born

The 1930s alone account for 4 of the births charted here.

A new nationMills & railroadsThe American centuryToday18001850190019502000Sammy AngottPaige SparaJoseph Vance
SportsScience & MedicinePolitics & LawFilm, TV & StageNotableMilitaryMusic

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

Everyone

Everyone else born in Washington

Of the other 23, 6 are athletes.

EJ

Eddie Jones

1934–2019

American actor

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Joseph Vance

Joseph Vance

1786–1852

United States general

WB

William A. Bardeen

1941–2025

American physicist

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
JF

James M. Fulton

1873–1940

American conductor and composer

JC

Jim Carmichael

1939–2016

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
SS

Samuel Stokely

1796–1861

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
JM

John R. Meyer

1927–2009

American economist

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
LM

Linn F. Mollenauer

1937–2021

American physicist

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
RF

Roger Raymond Fischer

born 1941

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
AS

Andrew Sweat

born 1989

American football player

JG

Judy Gans

1886–1949

American baseball player

RR

Robert Rentoul Reed

1807–1864

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
SB

Samuel W. Bryant

1877–1938

United States Navy admiral

FZ

Frank Zadworney

1916–1979

American football player

KS

Kermit Staggers

1947–2019

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
LM

Lee W. Minton

1911–1985

American labor union leader

NC

Nina J. Cullinan

1899–1983

American art patron and civic leader

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From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Washington 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 (5)