JW#1
Famous people · Bristol
Of the 17 famous people born in Bristol, an unusual share are leaders
Jack Wilson, the British professional rower, is the most widely known, written about in 13 languages. The American politician James DeWolf ranks second, ahead of Edward L. Leahy. From William Ellery to Seth Magaziner, the births on the list run from 1701 to 1983. For every 10,000 residents there are 7.7 on the list, well above the typical Rhode Island town’s 3.4.
Born here
17
notable people
Best known
Jack Wilson
in 13 Wikipedia languages
First
1701
William Ellery
Youngest
1983
Seth Magaziner
Most common field
Politics & Law
8 people
Also called it home
2
notable residents
What stands out about Bristol’s famous people
★ What stands out · Known for
What Bristol is known for
Compared with the usual town, leaders are the most over-represented field, at 2.3 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 Bristol’s famous people were born
Births peak in the 1840s, with 2 people born in that decade.
Politics & LawSportsWriting & ArtsMilitaryFilm, TV & StageNotable
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
The best known
Born in Bristol
Ranked by languages covered: Jack Wilson with 13, then James DeWolf with 10 and Edward L. Leahy with 9.
#2
#3Everyone
Everyone else born in Bristol
14 more, best known first.
Lewis Francis Herreshoff
1890–1972American boat designer, naval architect, editor and author
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
A chosen home
Also called Bristol home
2 notable people born elsewhere made the town home, Louise Brown the best known.
The town’s pick
Town Square →Who’s the most famous person from Bristol?
Pick one and say why. Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Your pick
No picks yet
Be the first to say who Bristol’s most famous person is.
Or tell us
Next door
Famous people from the towns next door
Warren has the longest list next door: 13.
From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Bristol 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 (11)
- James DeWolf: Rhode Island Historical Society, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Edward L. Leahy: MLK Library, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Seth Magaziner: Randy in PVD, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Benjamin Franklin Tilley: Adam Cuerden, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Byron Diman: Unidentified photographer, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Henry Golden Dearth: Unidentified photographer, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Nathanael Greene Herreshoff: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Thomas G. Turner: James Sullivan Lincoln, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Robert Gray: William Denison Lyman et al, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Thomas Williams Bicknell: Thomas Williams Bicknell, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Billy Gonsalves: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons