List of people from Maryland facts for kids
This article introduces you to some famous people from the American state of Maryland. These individuals are known for their achievements in different areas, like sports, music, and science. This list focuses on people who were born in Maryland or spent a significant part of their lives there.
Contents
Leaders and Judges from Maryland
Maryland has been home to many important leaders and legal figures. These people have helped shape laws and lead the country.
- Spiro T. Agnew: He was a former Governor of Maryland and later served as the Vice President of the United States.
- John R. Bolton: He was the 25th United States Ambassador to the United Nations.
- Charles Carroll of Carrollton: A lawyer and politician, he was one of the people who signed the Declaration of Independence.
- Samuel Chase: He served as a Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
- Frederick Douglass: A very important leader in the fight against slavery, known as an abolitionist.
- Merrick Garland: He is the current U.S. Attorney General, the country's chief law enforcement officer.
- John Hanson: He was the ninth president of the Continental Congress, which was a governing body before the U.S. Constitution was written.
- Steny Hoyer: A long-serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives, he has held important leadership roles.
- Brett Kavanaugh: He is an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States.
- Thurgood Marshall: He made history as the first African-American Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
- Aruna Miller: She is the current Lieutenant Governor of Maryland.
- Wes Moore: He is the current governor of Maryland.
- William Paca: Another signer of the Declaration of Independence.
- Nancy Pelosi: She served as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, a very powerful position.
- William Donald Schaefer: He was a former Governor of Maryland.
- Roger Taney: He served as the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
Inventors and Scientists from Maryland
Maryland has produced brilliant minds who have pushed the boundaries of science and technology. These individuals have made discoveries and invented things that changed the world.
- Hattie Alexander: A pediatrician and microbiologist, she helped develop treatments for a serious childhood illness.
- Richard R. Arnold: An astronaut for NASA and a biology teacher.
- Benjamin Banneker: A self-taught surveyor, astronomer, and mathematician who also wrote almanacs.
- Sergey Brin: He is famous for being one of the co-founders of Google, the popular search engine company.
- Ben Carson: A former neurosurgeon who also became a politician.
- Rachel Carson: An environmentalist whose writings helped start the modern environmental movement.
- Robert Curbeam: An astronaut and engineer who served in the U.S. Navy.
- George Dantzig: A mathematical scientist known for his work in optimization.
- Olive Dennis: A railroad engineer and the first woman to join the American Railway Engineering Association.
- Roger L. Easton: He was a key inventor of the GPS, which helps us find our way.
- Solomon W. Golomb: A mathematician who invented pentominoes, a type of puzzle.
- Michael Griffin: He served as the administrator of NASA, the U.S. space agency.
- Thomas David Jones: A NASA astronaut and U.S. Air Force pilot.
- John Mauchly: A physicist who, along with J. Presper Eckert, invented one of the first general-purpose electronic computers.
- Edmund McIlhenny: He invented Tabasco brand pepper sauce.
- Paul Reed Smith: A famous luthier, meaning he designs and builds guitars.
- Terry W. Virts: A NASA astronaut and U.S. Air Force pilot.
- John Archibald Wheeler: A theoretical physicist who worked on important concepts like black holes.
- Edward Witten: A physicist and mathematician known for his work in string theory.
Writers and Journalists from Maryland
Many talented writers and journalists have come from Maryland, sharing stories and information with the world.
- John Barth: A well-known author.
- Carl Bernstein: A famous journalist who helped uncover the Watergate scandal.
- Ann Brashares: An author, known for her young adult novels.
- Erin Burnett: A journalist and anchor for CNN.
- Tom Clancy: A very popular author known for his thrilling spy and military novels.
- Lucille Clifton: A respected poet.
- Ta-Nehisi Coates: A writer and journalist who often writes about race and culture.
- Frank Deford: A well-known journalist and author, especially in sports.
- Dashiell Hammett: An author famous for his detective stories.
- Zora Neale Hurston: A celebrated author of the Harlem Renaissance.
- Sophie Kerr: An author.
- Munro Leaf: A children's author, known for The Story of Ferdinand.
- Walter Lord: An author, known for his historical non-fiction.
- H. L. Mencken: A famous journalist and social critic.
- Ogden Nash: A humorous poet.
- Suzan-Lori Parks: A playwright and screenwriter.
- Edgar Allan Poe: A very famous poet, writer, and literary critic, known for his dark and mysterious stories and poems.
- Adrienne Rich: A poet and feminist.
- Nora Roberts: A highly successful author of romance novels.
- Karl Shapiro: A poet.
- Laura Amy Schlitz: A children's literature author.
- Upton Sinclair: An author known for his social commentary.
- Anne Tyler: A Pulitzer Prize-winning author.
- Scott Van Pelt: An ESPN anchor and radio host.
Musicians from Maryland
Maryland has a rich musical history, producing many talented singers, songwriters, and composers across different genres.
- Tori Amos: A singer-songwriter known for her unique piano-based music.
- BT: An electronic musician, born Brian Transeau.
- Eubie Blake: A legendary ragtime, jazz, and pop composer and lyricist.
- Toni Braxton: A Grammy-winning singer.
- David Byrne: The lead singer and guitarist of the rock band Talking Heads.
- Cab Calloway: A famous jazz singer and bandleader.
- Eva Cassidy: A singer-songwriter known for her powerful voice.
- JC Chasez: A singer and producer, formerly a member of the pop group N'Sync.
- Cass Elliot: A singer, part of the popular pop band The Mamas & the Papas.
- Brent Faiyaz: A singer and record producer.
- Philip Glass: A highly influential composer of modern classical music.
- Ginuwine: An R&B singer.
- Hilary Hahn: A world-renowned concert violinist.
- Billie Holiday: One of the most iconic jazz singers of all time.
- Joan Jett: A rock singer, known for her hit songs like "I Love Rock 'n Roll."
- Lisa Loeb: A singer-songwriter.
- Nils Lofgren: A solo rock musician and guitarist who plays with Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band.
- Logic: A popular rapper.
- Benji Madden: A guitarist for the band Good Charlotte.
- Joel Madden: The lead singer for Good Charlotte.
- Mario: An R&B singer-songwriter.
- Mýa: A singer, songwriter, and dancer.
- Ric Ocasek: The former frontman of the rock band The Cars.
- Barry Louis Polisar: A singer-songwriter known for his children's music.
- Maggie Rogers: A singer-songwriter and producer.
- Sisqó: The lead singer of the R&B group Dru Hill.
- Noel Paul Stookey: A singer, part of the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary.
- Frank Zappa: A highly creative singer, guitarist, and composer, known for his unique and experimental music.
Actors, Filmmakers, and Entertainers from Maryland
Maryland has contributed many talented people to the world of acting, filmmaking, and entertainment.
- Jonathan Banks: An actor known for his roles in TV shows like Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.
- Lewis Black: A comedian and actor.
- Julie Bowen: An actress, known for her role in the TV show Modern Family.
- Tamar Braxton: An actress, TV personality, and musician.
- Josh Charles: An actor.
- Kevin Clash: A puppeteer, famous for being the voice and puppeteer of Elmo on Sesame Street.
- Whitney Cummings: A stand-up comedian and actress.
- Tommy Davidson: An actor and comedian.
- Mildred Dunnock: An actress.
- Charles Dutton: A respected actor.
- Robert Duvall: A highly acclaimed actor with a long career in film.
- Michael Ealy: An actor.
- Anna Faris: An actress, known for her comedic roles.
- Judah Friedlander: A comedian and actor.
- Kathie Lee Gifford: A well-known TV personality and singer.
- Ira Glass: A radio personality and producer, host of This American Life.
- John Glover: An actor.
- Duff Goldman: A television personality and baker, known from Ace of Cakes.
- Linda Hamilton: An actress, famous for her role in the Terminator movies.
- David Hasselhoff: An actor and singer, known for Knight Rider and Baywatch.
- Goldie Hawn: A beloved actress and comedian.
- Taraji P. Henson: An award-winning actress.
- Rian Johnson: A filmmaker, director of movies like Knives Out and Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
- Spike Jonze: A director of music videos and films.
- Martin Lawrence: A popular actor, comedian, director, and producer.
- Barry Levinson: A respected filmmaker and director.
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus: A highly acclaimed actress, known for her roles in Seinfeld and Veep.
- William H. Macy: A talented actor.
- Shane McMahon: A professional wrestler.
- Mo'Nique Imes-Jackson: An actress and comedian.
- Edward Norton: An actor, known for his roles in films like Fight Club.
- Parker Posey: An actress.
- Mike Rowe: A TV personality, known for hosting Dirty Jobs.
- Richard Schiff: An actor, known for his role in The West Wing.
- Jada Pinkett Smith: An actress.
- Daniel Stern: An actor, known for movies like Home Alone.
- Rebecca Sugar: An animator, singer-songwriter, and screenwriter, creator of Steven Universe.
- Wanda Sykes: A comedian and actress.
- John Waters: A unique filmmaker known for his quirky movies.
- Montel Williams: A TV personality.
Athletes from Maryland
Maryland has a strong tradition of producing amazing athletes who have excelled in various sports, from baseball to swimming.
- Carmelo Anthony: A famous basketball player.
- Harold Baines: A Hall of Fame baseball player.
- Kyle Beckerman: A soccer player.
- Bill Belichick: A highly successful football coach.
- Len Bias: A talented basketball player.
- Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues: A basketball player known for being one of the shortest players in NBA history.
- Riddick Bowe: A former heavyweight champion boxer.
- Sam Cassell: A basketball player.
- Adrian Dantley: A basketball player.
- Dominique Dawes: An Olympic gymnast.
- Stefon Diggs: A football player.
- Juan Dixon: A basketball player.
- Kevin Durant: One of the top basketball players in the NBA.
- Jimmie Foxx: A Hall of Fame baseball player.
- Steve Francis: A basketball player.
- Rudy Gay: A basketball player.
- Lefty Grove: A Hall of Fame baseball player.
- Katie Hoff: An Olympic swimmer.
- Al Kaline: A Hall of Fame baseball player.
- Stacy Keibler: A professional wrestler and actress.
- Ty Lawson: A basketball player.
- Katie Ledecky: A multiple Olympic gold medalist in swimming.
- Sugar Ray Leonard: A Hall of Fame boxer.
- Helen Maroulis: An Olympic freestyle wrestler.
- Tatyana McFadden: A paralympian athlete in wheelchair racing.
- Michael Phelps: The most decorated Olympian of all time, known for his swimming achievements.
- Paul Rabil: A famous lacrosse player.
- Cal Ripken Jr.: A Hall of Fame baseball player, known for his "Iron Man" streak of consecutive games played.
- Babe Ruth: One of the greatest baseball players of all time, a Hall of Fame member.
- Pam Shriver: A tennis player.
- Kyle Snyder: An Olympic freestyle wrestler.
- Mark Teixeira: A baseball player.
- Cameron Wake: A football player.
- Joanna Zeiger: An Olympic and world champion triathlete.
People of Historical Importance from Maryland
Maryland has been home to individuals who played key roles in shaping history.
- John Wilkes Booth: An actor known for his role in a significant historical event.
- Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore: The first governor of the Maryland Colony.
- John Carroll: The first Roman Catholic archbishop in the United States.
- Stephen Decatur: A naval hero from the War of 1812.
- Francis Scott Key: He wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner," which became the United States national anthem.
- Samuel Mudd: A physician involved in a historical legal case.
- Harriet Tubman: A brave leader of the Underground Railroad, who helped many enslaved people find freedom.
Other Notable Marylanders
- Steve Bisciotti: The majority owner of the Baltimore Ravens football team.
- Sally Brice-O'Hara: A high-ranking officer in the U.S. Coast Guard.
- Johns Hopkins: A businessman and philanthropist who founded Johns Hopkins University and Hospital.
- Brendan Iribe: A game programmer and co-founder of Oculus VR, a virtual reality company.
- Mel Kiper Jr.: An ESPN football analyst, known for his expertise in NFL draft coverage.
- Kevin Plank: The CEO and founder of Under Armour, a popular sports apparel company.
- George Peabody: A philanthropist who founded the Peabody Institute.
- William Wilson Quinn: A former U.S. Army officer.
- Jim Rogers: A well-known businessman, investor, and author.
- James Rouse: A city planner known for developing planned communities.
- Christian Siriano: The winner of Season 4 of Project Runway, a fashion designer.
- Daniel Snyder: The owner of the Washington Commanders football team.
- Ben Stein: An actor, author, economist, and political speechwriter.