The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in

Providence, Rhode Island Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. One of the oldest cities in New England, it was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts ...

Arts, literature, humanities and entertainment

George Cohan Statue in Providence, Rhode Island

* Tom Adams, illustrator most famous for his Agatha Christie paperback cover designs * Daniel Adel, painter and illustrator *

Chester Holmes Aldrich Chester Holmes Aldrich (4 June 1871 – 26 December 1940) was an American architect and director of the American Academy in Rome. Early life Aldrich was born in Providence, Rhode Island. He was the third son of Anna Elizabeth (née Gladding) an ...

, architect and director of

American Academy in Rome The American Academy in Rome is a research and arts institution located on the Gianicolo (Janiculum Hill) in Rome. The academy is a member of the Council of American Overseas Research Centers. History In 1893, a group of American architects, ...

* David Aldrich, artist and architect *

Mathuren Arthur Andrieu Mathurin or Mathurin Arthur Andrieu (1822 – 1896) was a French painter. His work included portraits, landscapes, scenery, and panoramas. He was born in Bordeaux, and studied at the French Royal Academy. He then came to the United States, bei ...

, painter * Omar Bah, journalist and founder of the Refugee Dream Center * Mildred Barker, Shaker eldress, musician, and scholar who lived at the Alfred and Sabbathday Lake Shaker communities *

Joe Bastardi Joe Bastardi (born July 18, 1955) is a professional meteorologist and weather forecaster. He is a frequent guest on TV news shows. Bastardi is an outspoken denier of human-induced global warming whose public statements frequently contradict the s ...

, meteorologist * Joe Beats, hip-hop producer * Ted Berrigan, poet *

Blu Cantrell Blu Cantrell (born Tiffany Cobb; March 16, 1976) is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter. Cantrell rose to fame in 2001, with the release of her debut single, "Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)", which peaked at number two on the US ''Billboa ...

, singer of 2001 hit "Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops)" * William Carpenter, early settler of Providence * Marilyn Chambers (1952–2009), adult-film actress * Damien Chazelle, director and screenwriter, ''

Whiplash Whiplash may refer to: * The long flexible part of a whip * Whiplash (medicine), a neck injury ** Whiplash Injury Protection System (WHIPS), in automobiles Film and television * ''Whiplash'' (1948 film), a US film noir about a boxer * ''Whiplas ...

'' and ''

La La Land ''La La Land'' is a 2016 American romantic musical comedy-drama film written and directed by Damien Chazelle. It stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as a struggling jazz pianist and an aspiring actress, respectively, who meet and fall in love ...

'' * Nicole Chesney, artist *

George M. Cohan George Michael Cohan (July 3, 1878November 5, 1942) was an American entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer and theatrical producer. Cohan began his career as a child, performing with his parents and sister in a vaudev ...

, songwriter and entertainer, composed "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy" and "

You're a Grand Old Flag "You're a Grand Old Flag" is an American patriotic march. The song, a spirited march written by George M. Cohan, is a tribute to the U.S. flag. In addition to obvious references to the flag, it incorporates snippets of other popular songs, inclu ...

" *

Bill Conti William Conti (born April 13, 1942) is an American composer and conductor, best known for his film scores, including ''Rocky'' (and four of its sequels), ''The Karate Kid'' (and all of its sequels), '' For Your Eyes Only'', ''Dynasty'' (and its ...

, composer of music for film and television, including theme from ''

Rocky ''Rocky'' is a 1976 American sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the first installment in the ''Rocky'' franchise and stars Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, and Burge ...

'' * Scott Corbett, writer of children's books *

Michael Corrente Michael Corrente (born April 6, 1959) is an American film director and producer. His films include '' A Shot at Glory'', '' American Buffalo'', '' Outside Providence'', '' Brooklyn Rules'' and '' Federal Hill''. '' Federal Hill'' won the Audienc ...

, film director and producer *

Pauly D Paul Michael DelVecchio Jr. (born July 5, 1980), known as Pauly D and DJ Pauly D, is an American television personality and DJ. He is best known for being a cast member of MTV's reality show '' Jersey Shore''. In 2011, he made a three-album d ...

, television personality, noted for contributions to the MTV program Jersey Shore. * Christopher Denise, illustrator of children's books, including many in the ''

Redwall ''Redwall'' is a series of children's fantasy novels by British writer Brian Jacques, published from 1986 to 2011. It is also the title of the first book of the series, published in 1986, as well as the name of the abbey featured in the book, ...

'' series * Bruce DeSilva, author of the Liam Mulligan series of mystery novels *

Paul Di Filippo Paul Di Filippo (born October 29, 1954) is an American science fiction writer. He is a regular reviewer for print magazines ''Asimov's Science Fiction'', ''The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction'', '' Science Fiction Eye'', ''The New York R ...

, author of Steampunk Trilogy * Ronald Dworkin, author, professor of constitutional law * John Dwyer, multi-instrumentalist, primary songwriter and core member of Thee Oh Sees, visual artist, record label owner * C. M. Eddy, Jr., author of mysteries and horror fiction *

Nelson Eddy Nelson Ackerman Eddy (June 29, 1901 – March 6, 1967) was an American actor and baritone singer who appeared in 19 musical films during the 1930s and 1940s, as well as in opera and on the concert stage, radio, television, and in nightclub ...

, singer and film actor *

Susan Eisenberg Susan Eisenberg is an American voice, film and television actress. She is best known for being the voice of Wonder Woman in many entertainment media, particularly animations such as the DC Animated Universe animated shows, ''Justice League'' an ...

, voice actress *

Jeanpaul Ferro Jéanpaul Ferro (born January 26, 1967, in Providence, Rhode Island) is an American writer of poetry, novels, and short stories, whose works incorporate philosophical, social-political, and topical conventions. An 8-time Pushcart Prize nominee, ...

, poet, short fiction author, novelist * Elisabeth Filarski, footwear designer, '' Survivor: The Australian Outback'' contestant *

Sage Francis Paul William "Sage" Francis (born November 18, 1976) is an American independent underground rapper from Providence, Rhode Island. He is the founder and CEO of Strange Famous Records. Early life and education Francis was born in Miami, Florida ...

, hip hop artist and

slam Slam, SLAM or SLAMS may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional elements * S.L.A.M. (Strategic Long-Range Artillery Machine), a fictional weapon in the ''G.I. Joe'' universe * SLAMS (Space-Land-Air Missile Shield), a fictional anti-ball ...

poet * Margaret Burnham Geddes, architect, activist, and urban planner * Al Gomes, record producer and songwriter *

Roger A. Graham Roger A. Graham (12 June 1885 – 25 October 1938) was an American lyricist, composer, singer, and music publisher who flourished from 1906 to 1920 — a period that included World War I, the golden age of Tin Pan Alley (from about 1915 to 1920), ...

, lyricist, songwriter * Robert Leo (Bobby) Hackett, jazz musician (trumpet, cornet, guitar) * Scott Haltzman, author, ''The Secrets of Happily Married Men: Eight Ways to Win Your Wife's Heart Forever'' * Scott Hamilton, tenor saxophonist *

Clay Hart Clay Hart (born July 1, 1942) is an American country music singer and guitarist who was a member of ''The Lawrence Welk Show'' television program from 1969 to 1975. Biography Born Henry Clay Hart, III, and reared in Providence, Rhode Island; he a ...

, country musician (guitar) * Richard Hatch, winner of '' Survivor: Borneo'' *

David Hedison Albert David Hedison Jr. (May 20, 1927 – July 18, 2019) was an American film, television, and stage actor. He was billed as Al Hedison in his early film work until 1959 when he was cast in the role of Victor Sebastian in the short-lived espion ...

, actor, star of ''

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea ''Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'' is a 1961 American science fiction disaster film, produced and directed by Irwin Allen, and starring Walter Pidgeon and Robert Sterling. The supporting cast includes Peter Lorre, Joan Fontaine, Barbara Eden, M ...

'' * Greta Hodgkinson, ballet dancer *

Ruth Hussey Ruth Carol Hussey (October 30, 1911 – April 19, 2005) was an American actress best known for her Academy Award-nominated role as photographer Elizabeth Imbrie in '' The Philadelphia Story''. Early life Hussey was born in Providence, Rhode I ...

, actress, Oscar-nominated for '' The Philadelphia Story'' (1940) * Joe S. Jackson, sportswriter and editor *

Matilda Sissieretta Joyner Jones Matilda Sissieretta Joyner Jones (January 5, 1868 or 1869 – June 24, 1933) was an American soprano. She sometimes was called "The Black Patti" in reference to Italians, Italian opera singer Adelina Patti. Jones' repertoire included grand oper ...

(1868–1933), pioneering black soprano who played to audiences around the world *

Claudia Jordan Claudia Angela Jordan is an American talk show host, actress, model, businesswoman and reality television and radio personality. She is known for appearing as a model on the U.S. version of ''Deal or No Deal'' and ''The Price Is Right'', and fo ...

, actress, Miss Rhode Island USA 1997 *

Galway Kinnell Galway Mills Kinnell (February 1, 1927 – October 28, 2014) was an American poet. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for his 1982 collection, ''Selected Poems'' and split the National Book Award for Poetry with Charles Wright. From 1989 to 1 ...

, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet * Jesse Leach, vocalist and musician, original frontman of

Killswitch Engage Killswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the disbanding of Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Jesse Leach, guitarists Joel Stroetzel an ...

Seemless Seemless was an American rock/metal group formed by ex-Shadows Fall/Unearth drummer Derek Kerswill, Killswitch Engage vocalist Jesse Leach, and ex-Overcast/Killswitch Engage guitarist Pete Cortese. Formed in 2002 following Leach's departure ...

, The Empire Shall Fall and Times of Grace *

James Sullivan Lincoln James Sullivan Lincoln (May 13, 1811 – January 18, 1888) was an American portrait painter based in Providence, Rhode Island. He has been called the "father of Rhode Island art" and the "father of art in Providence". His works include eleven port ...

(1811–1888), "Father of Rhode Island Art" and first president of the Providence Art Club * H. P. Lovecraft (1890–1937), author of fantasy and horror fiction *

Dorothy Lovett Dorothy Lovett (February 16, 1915 – April 28, 1998) was an American film actress. Biography Early and personal life Lovett was born in Providence, Rhode Island. She married director Jack Hively (1910-1995) on December 25, 1941, wh ...

, actress * Albert Lythgoe (1868–1934), archaeologist and curator of the

Metropolitan Museum of Art The Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York City, colloquially "the Met", is the largest art museum in the Americas. Its permanent collection contains over two million works, divided among 17 curatorial departments. The main building at 1000 ...

Dodge MacKnight Dodge Macknight (''né'' William Dodge MacKnight; 1 October 1860 Providence, Rhode Island – 23 May 1950 East Sandwich, Massachusetts) was an American painter. Career MacKnight's work falls under the post-Impressionism, an art movement that ...

, painter *

George Macready George Peabody Macready Jr. (August 29, 1899 – July 2, 1973) was an American stage, film, and television actor often cast in roles as polished villains. Early life Macready was born in Providence, Rhode Island on August 29, 1899. He graduated ...

, actor, ''

Gilda ''Gilda'' is a 1946 American film noir directed by Charles Vidor and starring Rita Hayworth in her signature role and Glenn Ford. The film is known for cinematographer Rudolph Maté's lush photography, costume designer Jean Louis's wardrobe fo ...

'', ''

Paths of Glory ''Paths of Glory'' is a 1957 American anti-war film co-written and directed by Stanley Kubrick, based on the novel of the same name by Humphrey Cobb. Set during World War I, the film stars Kirk Douglas as Colonel Dax, the commanding officer of ...

'' *

Jason Marsden Jason Christopher Marsden (born January 3, 1975) is an American actor, director, producer and YouTuber, who has done numerous voice roles in animated films, as well as various television series and video games. He has been the official voice of ...

, voice actor *

Cormac McCarthy Cormac McCarthy (born Charles Joseph McCarthy Jr., July 20, 1933) is an American writer who has written twelve novels, two plays, five screenplays and three short stories, spanning the Western and post-apocalyptic genres. He is known for his gr ...

, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, ''

The Road ''The Road'' is a 2006 post-apocalyptic novel by American writer Cormac McCarthy. The book details the grueling journey of a father and his young son over a period of several months across a landscape blasted by an unspecified cataclysm that ha ...

'', ''

No Country for Old Men ''No Country for Old Men'' is a 2007 American neo-Western crime thriller film written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, based on Cormac McCarthy's 2005 novel of the same name. Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, and Josh Brolin, th ...

'', ''

Blood Meridian ''Blood Meridian or the Evening Redness in the West'' is a 1985 in literature, 1985 Epic (genre), epic novel by American author Cormac McCarthy, classified under the Western (genre), Western, or sometimes the Revisionist Western, anti-Western, g ...

'' *

Shanna Moakler Shanna Lynn Moakler (; born March 28, 1975) is an American model, actress, and reality television star. She was the winner of the Miss New York USA pageant in 1995 and was the first runner-up at Miss USA 1995. After winner Chelsi Smith won the ...

, 1992 Miss Rhode Island Teen USA, 1995 Miss New York USA and Miss USA *

Nico Muhly Nico Asher Muhly (; born August 26, 1981) is an American contemporary classical music composer and arranger who has worked and recorded with both classical and pop musicians. A prolific composer, he has composed for many notable symphony orchestras ...

, composer *

Andy On Andy On () (born May 11, 1977) is an American actor and martial artist. Life and career On was born on May 11, 1977, in Providence, Rhode Island. He is a native of the US, and can speak English, Mandarin, and a bit of Cantonese. Andy On did no ...

, Chinese-American

Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delta i ...

actor *

Jeffrey Osborne Jeffrey Linton Osborne (born March 9, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and lyricist. He is the former drummer and lead singer of the American R&B/soul group L.T.D., with whom he began his musical career in 1970. Biography Earl ...

, lead vocalist with L.T.D. *

Monty Oum Monyreak Oum ( ; June 22, 1981 – February 1, 2015) was an American web-based animator and writer. Oum attracted attention within the gaming community after releasing an animated video in 2007, titled ''Haloid'', where characters from the ''Halo ...

(1981–2015), animator for Rooster Teeth Productions; creator of ''

RWBY ''RWBY'' (pronounced "Ruby") is an American anime-influenced computer-animated web series created by Monty Oum for Rooster Teeth. It is set in the fictional world of Remnant, where young people train to become warriors (called "Huntsmen" and ...

'' *

John Pagano John Pagano (born March 30, 1967) is an American football coach and most recently the outside linebackers coach for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as an assistant coach for the Houston Texans, Oakl ...

, R&B and pop singer * Vincent Pagano, actor, screenwriter *

Don Pardo Dominick George "Don" Pardo (February 22, 1918 – August 18, 2014) was an American radio and television announcer whose career spanned more than seven decades. A member of the Television Hall of Fame, Pardo was noted for his 70-year tenure with ...

(1918–2014),

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...

announcer since 1944, ''

Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (often abbreviated to ''SNL'') is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC and Peacock (streaming service), Peacock. ...

'' 1975–2014 *

S. J. Perelman Sidney Joseph Perelman (February 1, 1904 – October 17, 1979) was an American humorist and screenwriter. He is best known for his humorous short pieces written over many years for ''The New Yorker''. He also wrote for several other magazines ...

, humorist, author, and screenwriter *

Sylvia Poggioli Sylvia Poggioli ( or ; born 19 May 1946) (Bad link) is an American radio reporter for National Public Radio. She is the network's senior European correspondent. Early life Poggioli was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and raised in Cambridge, ...

, reporter for

National Public Radio National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...

Ira Rakatansky Ira Rakatansky (October 3, 1919 – March 4, 2014) was a modernist architect from, and based in, Rhode Island. He studied modern architecture under Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Life and work Ira ...

(1919–2014), modernist architect *

Josh Schwartz Joshua Ian Schwartz (born August 6, 1976) is an American screenwriter and television producer. Schwartz is best known for creating and executive producing the Fox teen drama series '' The O.C.'' which ran for 4 seasons. Schwartz is also known fo ...

, creator of television series ''

The O.C. ''The O.C. '' is an American teen drama television series created by Josh Schwartz that originally aired on the Fox network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 22, 2007, running a total of four seasons. "O.C." is an initiali ...

'' * A. O. Scott, film critic for

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

Chris Sparling Chris Sparling (born March 21, 1977) is an American filmmaker from Providence, Rhode Island. Career Upon graduating from Roger Williams University and Bridgewater State University with degrees in Criminal Justice, and after writing, directing, ...

, screenwriter and film director * Daniel Sully, stage actor and playwright * Benjamin C. Truman, war correspondent and author *

Meredith Vieira Meredith Louise Vieira (born December 30, 1953) is an American broadcast journalist and television personality. She is best known as the original moderator of the daytime talk show '' The View'' (1997–2006), the original host of the syndicated ...

, television personality *

Sarah Helen Whitman Sarah Helen Power Whitman (January 19, 1803 – June 27, 1878) was an American poet, essayist, transcendentalist, spiritualist and a romantic interest of Edgar Allan Poe. Early life Whitman was born in Providence, Rhode Island on January 19, ...

, poet, possible inspiration for

Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wid ...

poems " To Helen" and "

Annabel Lee "Annabel Lee" is the last complete poem composed by American author Edgar Allan Poe. Like many of Poe's poems, it explores the theme of the death of a beautiful woman.Meyers, Jeffrey. ''Edgar Allan Poe: His Life and Legacy''. New York: Cooper Sq ...

" * Mabel May Woodward (1877–1945), prominent impressionist painter and RISD faculty

Business

Arunah Shepherdson Abell Arunah Shepherdson Abell (August 10, 1806 – April 19, 1888) was an American publisher from New England who was active in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Born in East Providence, Rhode Island, Abell learned the newspaper business as an apprentice at ...

, publisher and philanthropist * Everett M. "Busy" Arnold, comic-book entrepreneur and publisher * Andrew Dexter Jr., financier of Exchange Coffee House * Wylie Dufresne, chef * Alan Shawn Feinstein, finance expert and philanthropist; Feinstein High School in Providence is named in his honor * A. O. Granger (1846–1914), American industrialist and soldier *

William Hamlin William Hamlin (1772–1869) was an American entrepreneur and the first engraver for the state of Rhode Island. In one of his engravings, he published the first views of Providence, Rhode Island. He made a variety of technical etchings that ...

, entrepreneur and Rhode Island's first engraver * Henry J. Steere, industrialist and philanthropist

Innovators

Zachariah Allen Zachariah Allen (September 15, 1795 – March 17, 1882) was an American textile manufacturer, scientist, lawyer, writer, inventor and civil leader from Providence, Rhode Island. He was educated at Phillips Exeter Academy and at Brown Universit ...

, scientist and inventor, patented automatic cut-off valve for steam engines *

George Henry Corliss George Henry Corliss (June 2, 1817 – February 21, 1888) was an American mechanical engineer and inventor, who developed the Corliss steam engine, which was a great improvement over any other stationary steam engine of its time. The Corliss ...

, inventor of the

Corliss steam engine A Corliss steam engine (or Corliss engine) is a steam engine, fitted with rotary valves and with variable valve timing patented in 1849, invented by and named after the American engineer George Henry Corliss of Providence, Rhode Island. Engines ...

, which revolutionized industry by making steam-power cheaper than water-power for powering factories * Andries van Dam, pioneer in the field of

computer graphics Computer graphics deals with generating images with the aid of computers. Today, computer graphics is a core technology in digital photography, film, video games, cell phone and computer displays, and many specialized applications. A great de ...

and professor at Brown University

Military

* George K. Anderson, general * George Andrews, Adjutant General of the U.S. Army from 1912 to 1914 * Israel Angell, colonel in the

American Revolution The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revoluti ...

* Richard Arnold, Civil War general * William Seaman Bainbridge, military physician, surgeon and gynecologist * Charles L. Hodges, U.S. Army major general * Albert Martin, defender of the Alamo * Frank Wheaton, Civil War general

Politics

, creator of ''

Philadelphia Public Ledger The ''Public Ledger'' was a daily newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, published from March 25, 1836, to January 1942. Its motto was "Virtue Liberty and Independence". For a time, it was Philadelphia's most popular newspaper, but circulation de ...

'' and '' Baltimore Sun'' newspapers *

Nelson W. Aldrich Nelson Wilmarth Aldrich (/ ˈɑldɹɪt͡ʃ/; November 6, 1841 – April 16, 1915) was a prominent American politician and a leader of the Republican Party in the United States Senate, where he represented Rhode Island from 1881 to 1911. By the 1 ...

, U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, grandfather of Vice President Nelson Rockefeller and father of Richard S. Aldrich *

Richard S. Aldrich Richard Steere Aldrich (February 29, 1884December 25, 1941) was an American politician. He was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and served in the Rhode Island State Senate and the Rhode Island House of Representatives. ...

, U.S. Representative * Philip Allen, 22nd

Governor of Rhode Island The governor of Rhode Island is the head of government of the U.S. state of Rhode Island and serves as commander-in-chief of the state's Army National Guard and Air National Guard. The current governor is Democrat Dan McKee. In their capac ...

and U.S. Senator *

William Henry Allen Master Commandant William Henry Allen (October 21, 1784 – August 18, 1813) was an American naval officer during the War of 1812. Early life Allen was born in Providence, Rhode Island and was appointed a midshipman in the United States Navy on ...

, naval officer during

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States, United States of America and its Indigenous peoples of the Americas, indigenous allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom ...

, scientist and inventor * Jonathan Arnold, member of Continental Congress from Rhode Island * Samuel G. Arnold,

United States Senator The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and powe ...

from Rhode Island * Edward Beard, U.S. Representative *

Grace Lee Boggs Grace Lee Boggs (June 27, 1915 – October 5, 2015) was an American author, social activist, philosopher, and feminist. She is known for her years of political collaboration with C. L. R. James and Raya Dunayevskaya in the 1940s and 1950s. In th ...

, social activist and feminist, known for work done in

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at t ...

* Jabez Bowen, federalist supporter, Deputy Governor of Rhode Island and Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court * John Brown, co-founder of Brown University, U.S. Representative *

John Chafee John Lester Hubbard Chafee ( ; October 22, 1922 – October 24, 1999) was an American politician and officer in the United States Marine Corps. A member of the Republican Party (United States), he served as the 66th Governor of Rhode Island, as ...

, Governor of

Rhode Island Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area and the seventh-least populous, with slightly fewer than 1.1 million residents as of 2020, but it ...

Secretary of the Navy The secretary of the Navy (or SECNAV) is a statutory officer () and the head (chief executive officer) of the Department of the Navy, a military department (component organization) within the United States Department of Defense. By law, the se ...

, and

Zechariah Chafee Zechariah Chafee Jr. (December 7, 1885 – February 8, 1957) was an American judicial philosopher and civil rights advocate, described as "possibly the most important First Amendment scholar of the first half of the twentieth century" by Richa ...

, lawyer, academic and civil libertarian *

Vincent Cianci Vincent Albert "Buddy" Cianci, Jr. (, ; , ; April 30, 1941 – January 28, 2016) was an American politician, attorney, radio talk show host, political commentator, and convicted felon who served as the List of mayors of Providence, Rhode Island, ...

, longest-serving mayor in Providence history (1974–1984) and (1991–2002); city's first Italian-American mayor * Thomas Davis, U.S. Representative * Herbert F. DeSimone, Attorney General of Rhode Island and Assistant Secretary of Transportation * Ray Fogarty, Rhode Island state representative * Dwight Foster, U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative *

Theodore Foster Theodore Foster (April 29, 1752January 13, 1828) was an American lawyer and politician from Rhode Island. He was a member of the Federalist Party and later the National Republican Party. He served as one of the first two United States senato ...

, U.S. Senator * J. Joseph Garrahy, 69th Governor of Rhode Island * Albert C. Greene, U.S. Senator and

Attorney General of Rhode Island The Attorney General of Rhode Island is the chief legal advisor of the Government of the State of Rhode Island and oversees the State of Rhode Island Department of Law. The attorney general is elected every four years. The current Attorney Gene ...

* John Patrick Hartigan, Judge of United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and of

United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island (in case citations, D.R.I.) is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Rhode Island. The District Court was created in 1790 when Rhode Island ratified th ...

* Nicole Love Hendrickson, chair of the

Gwinnett County, Georgia Gwinnett County ( ) is located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. It forms part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. In 2020, the population was 957,062, making it the second-most populous county in Georgia (after Fulto ...

Board of Commissioners * Stephen Hopkins, nine-time

and signer of

Declaration of Independence A declaration of independence or declaration of statehood or proclamation of independence is an assertion by a polity in a defined territory that it is independent and constitutes a state. Such places are usually declared from part or all of th ...

* David Jagolinzer, American litigation attorney, born in Providence. * Elisha Jenkins,

New York Secretary of State The secretary of state of New York is a cabinet officer in the government of the U.S. state of New York who leads the Department of State (NYSDOS). The current secretary of state of New York is Robert J. Rodriguez, a Democrat. Duties The secre ...

Mayor of Albany From its formal chartering on 22 July 1686 until 1779, the mayors of Albany, New York, were appointed by the royal governor of New York, per the provisions of the original city charter, issued by Governor Thomas Dongan. From 1779 until 1839, may ...

Pat LaMarche Patricia Helen LaMarche (born November 26, 1960) is an American political figure and activist with the Green Party of the United States; she was the party's vice-presidential candidate in the 2004 United States presidential election, with Dav ...

Green Party A green party is a formally organized political party based on the principles of green politics, such as social justice, environmentalism and nonviolence. Greens believe that these issues are inherently related to one another as a foundation f ...

vice presidential candidate in 2004 and activist * Oscar Lapham, U.S. Congressman *

Henry Lippitt Henry Lippitt (October 9, 1818 – June 5, 1891) was the 33rd Governor of Rhode Island from 1875 to 1877. Family Lippitt was the son of Warren Lippitt and Eliza (Seamans) Lippitt, married to Mary Ann Balch. Lippitt was the father of Charles Wa ...

(1818–1891), textile magnate, governor of Rhode Island, his Victorian mansion is one of the finest in Providence * Audri Mukhopadhyay, Canadian diplomat *

Dee Dee Myers Margaret Jane "Dee Dee" Myers (born September 1, 1961) is an American political analyst who served as the 19th White House Press Secretary during the first two years of the Clinton administration. She was the first woman and the second-youngest p ...

, first female White House Press Secretary, served during Clinton administration * John O. Pastore, Democratic politician, first Italian-American governor (1945–1950) and Italian-American senator (1950–1976) of Rhode Island * John Rucho, Massachusetts state legislator and businessman, was born in Providence * Pamela Sawyer, member of

Connecticut House of Representatives The Connecticut State House of Representatives is the lower house in the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The house is composed of 151 members representing an equal number of districts, with ...

Bruce Sundlun Bruce George Sundlun (January 19, 1920 – July 21, 2011) was an American businessman, politician and member of the Democratic Party who served as 71st governor of Rhode Island between 1991 and 1995. He was Rhode Island's second Jewish gove ...

, 71st

and businessman *

Robert Tiernan Robert Owens Tiernan (February 24, 1929 – October 15, 2014) was an American lawyer and politician from Rhode Island. He served in the Rhode Island State Senate and was a member of the United States House of Representatives. Early life Tierna ...

, U.S. Representative and member of Rhode Island General Assembly *

Pat Toomey Patrick Joseph Toomey Jr. (born November 17, 1961) is an American businessman and politician serving as the junior United States senator for Pennsylvania since 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he served three terms as the U.S. representa ...

, U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania

Reformers

Paulina Kellogg Wright Davis Paulina Wright Davis ( Kellogg; August 7, 1813 – August 24, 1876) was an American abolitionist, suffragist, and educator. She was one of the founders of the New England Woman Suffrage Association. Early life Davis was born in Bloomfield, N ...

(1813–1876),

abolitionist Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the movement to end slavery. In Western Europe and the Americas, abolitionism was a historic movement that sought to end the Atlantic slave trade and liberate the enslaved people. The British ...

suffragist Suffrage, political franchise, or simply franchise, is the right to vote in public, political elections and referendums (although the term is sometimes used for any right to vote). In some languages, and occasionally in English, the right to v ...

, and educator * Arthur L. Hardge (1927–1983), African American civil rights activist, minister, and administrator * Bertha G. Higgins (1872–1944), African American suffragist, civil rights activist and clubwoman * Mary E. Jackson (1867–1923), African-American female suffrage activist,

YWCA The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) is a nonprofit organization with a focus on empowerment, leadership, and rights of women, young women, and girls in more than 100 countries. The World office is currently based in Geneva, Swi ...

leader and writer, born in Providence and active in RI politics * Marion Simon Misch (1869–1941), activist, teacher, writer, businesswoman * Elizabeth J. Smith (1842–unknown), Canadian-American temperance activist; newspaper editor and publisher

Science and medicine

* Martha H. Mowry (1818–1899), first woman physician in Rhode Island

Sports

Bill Almon William Francis Almon (born November 21, 1952) is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Montreal Expos, New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Pittsburg ...

, player for eight

MLB Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

teams *

Deon Anderson Deon Terry Anderson (born January 27, 1983) is a former American football fullback in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He pla ...

, NFL fullback *

Rocco Baldelli Rocco Daniel Baldelli (; born September 25, 1981) is an American former professional baseball outfielder and coach who is the manager of the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). As a player, Baldelli quickly progressed through the min ...

, MLB outfielder *

Marvin Barnes Marvin Jerome "Bad News" Barnes (July 27, 1952 – September 8, 2014) was an American professional basketball player. A forward, he was an All-American at Providence College, and played professionally in both the American Basketball Association ...

, NBA player *

Will Blackmon William Edwards Blackmon (born October 27, 1984) is a former American football safety and return specialist. He played college football for the Boston College Eagles, and was drafted in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Pack ...

, NFL cornerback * Paul Briggs, NFL player *

Jill Craybas Jill N. Craybas (born July 4, 1974) is an American former professional tennis player. From the 2000 US Open to the 2011 US Open, Craybas competed in 45 consecutive Grand Slam main draws; her best result coming in the 2005 Wimbledon Championships ...

, professional tennis player * Ernie DiGregorio, NBA rookie of the year in 1974 * William Butler Duncan II, leader in

New York Yacht Club The New York Yacht Club (NYYC) is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. ...

's long defense of the America's Cup * Hobe Ferris, second baseman for the

Boston Americans The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...

Beverly Baker Fleitz Beverly Baker Fleitz (March 13, 1930 – April 29, 2014) was a women's tennis player from the United States who was active in the late 1940s and during the 1950s. According to John Olliff and Lance Tingay of ''The Daily Telegraph'' and the ''Dai ...

, tennis player, 1955 Wimbledon singles and doubles finalist, French Open doubles champion * Anita Foss, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player *

Harold Gomes Harold Gomes (born August 22, 1933) is an American former professional boxer who competed between 1951 and 1963. The highlight of Gomes's career came in 1959 when he won the world super featherweight title against Paul Jorgensen. Professional ...

, boxer *

Matt Hyson Matthew Jonathan Hyson (born August 13, 1970) is an American retired professional wrestler best known for his tenure in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as Spike Dudley. Prior to WWE, Hyson began performing as Spike Dudley in the 1990s with ...

, pro wrestler, better known as Spike Dudley * Chris Ianetta, MLB catcher * Ray Jarvis,

pitcher * Marilyn Jones, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player *

Paul Konerko Paul Henry Konerko (; born March 5, 1976) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a first baseman from 1997 to 2014, most prominently as a member of the Chicago White Sox, where he was a si ...

, MLB first baseman *

Davey Lopes David Earle Lopes (; born May 3, 1945) is an American former second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). He batted and threw right-handed. He played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, and Houston ...

, player, coach for the

Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...

Tom Lovett Thomas Joseph Lovett (December 7, 1863 – March 19, 1928) was an American professional baseball pitcher. He played all or part of six seasons in Major League Baseball between 1885 and 1894. After playing for the Waterbury team in the Connec ...

pitcher * Peter Manfredo Jr., boxer *

Bill Osmanski William Thomas Osmanski (December 29, 1915 – December 25, 1996), nicknamed "Bullet" Bill, was an American football player and coach. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973 and in 1977 he was inducted into the National Po ...

, College Football Hall of Fame *

Chuck Palumbo Charles Palumbo (born June 15, 1971) is an Italian-American television personality, motorcycle and automotive designer/fabricator, home designer/builder, and retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with professional w ...

, pro wrestler *

Michael Parkhurst Michael Finlay Parkhurst (born January 24, 1984) is an American former soccer player who played as a defender. The 2005 MLS Rookie of the Year and 2007 MLS Defender of the Year Award, Parkhurst was capable of playing both as a center back and ...

, soccer defender for USMNT

Others

* Edward Francis Anhalt, professor, event promoter, and company founder * James E. FitzGerald (1906–1969) Jesuit and academic, fourth president of Fairfield University in Connecticut

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:List of people from Providence, Rhode Island * Providence

People A person ( : people) is a being that has certain capacities or attributes such as reason, morality, consciousness or self-consciousness, and being a part of a culturally established form of social relations such as kinship, ownership of prope ...