This is a list of notable Swiss Americans, including both original immigrants who obtained American citizenship and their American descendants. To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article showing they are Swiss American or must have references showing they are Swiss American and are notable.

Pioneers

* Peter Luginbill (1818–1886), born in France as the son of Mennonite parents exiled from the

Emmental The Emmental ( en, Emme Valley) is a valley in west-central Switzerland, forming part of the canton of Bern. It is a hilly landscape comprising the basins of the rivers Emme (river), Emme and Ilfis (river), Ilfis. The region is mostly devoted to ...

, early settler in

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...

and founder of the city of

Berne Bern () or Berne; in other Swiss languages, gsw, Bärn ; frp, Bèrna ; it, Berna ; rm, Berna is the ''de facto'' Capital city, capital of Switzerland, referred to as the "federal city" (in german: Bundesstadt, link=no, french: ville fédérale ...

John Sutter John Augustus Sutter (February 23, 1803 – June 18, 1880), born Johann August Sutter and known in Spanish as Don Juan Sutter, was a Swiss immigrant of Mexican and American citizenship, known for establishing Sutter's Fort in the area th ...

(1803–1880), born in Germany of a Swiss father,

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

n famous for his association with the California Gold Rush (in that gold was discovered by James W. Marshall in Sutter's Mill) and for establishing Sutter's Fort in an area that would later become the capital of California, Sacramento ** John Augustus Sutter, Jr. (1826–1897), his son, a

U.S. The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

Consul Consul (abbrev. ''cos.''; Latin plural ''consules'') was the title of one of the two chief magistrates of the Roman Republic, and subsequently also an important title under the Roman Empire. The title was used in other European city-states throu ...

to Acapulco,

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

and the founder and planner of the City of Sacramento,

* Theobald (Diebold) von Erlach (1541–1565), first Swiss person known to have settled in North America. * Wright brothers, aviation pioneers, mother of partial Swiss descent *

Louis Chevrolet Louis-Joseph Chevrolet (; December 25, 1878 – June 6, 1941) was a Swiss-American race car driver, mechanic and entrepreneur who co-founded the Chevrolet Motor Car Company in 1911. Early life Louis-Joseph Chevrolet was born on December 25, 18 ...

, co-founder of Chevrolet Motor Car Company in 1911 * John Joachim Zubly (1724–1781) of

St. Gallen , neighboring_municipalities = Eggersriet, Gaiserwald, Gossau, Herisau (AR), Mörschwil, Speicher (AR), Stein (AR), Teufen (AR), Untereggen, Wittenbach , twintowns = Liberec (Czech Republic) , website = ...

, pastor, planter, and statesman during the American Revolution

List by occupation

Business

Robert Abplanalp Robert Henry Abplanalp, ( KHS) (April 4, 1922 – August 30, 2003) was an American inventor and engineer who invented the modern form of the aerosol spray valve, the founder of Precision Valve Corporation, a Republican political activist, and ...

(1922–2003), businessman, inventor of the aerosol valve * Steve Ballmer (born 1956), businessman and CEO of Microsoft Corporation *

Henry Clay Frick Henry Clay Frick (December 19, 1849 – December 2, 1919) was an American industrialist, financier, and art patron. He founded the H. C. Frick & Company coke manufacturing company, was chairman of the Carnegie Steel Company, and played a maj ...

(1849–1919), industrialist and art patron, once known as "America's most hated man". as per CNBC one of the "Worst American CEOs of All Time". * Meyer Guggenheim (1828–1905), statesman, patriarch of Guggenheim family *

Simon Guggenheim John Simon Guggenheim (December 30, 1867 – November 2, 1941) was an American businessman, politician and philanthropist. Life Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania of Jewish descent, Simon Guggenheim was the son of Meyer Guggenheim and Barbara G ...

(1867–1941), businessman, politician, and philanthropist * Steve Jobs (1955–2011), information technology entrepreneur and inventor *

Milton Hershey Milton Snavely Hershey (September 13, 1857 – October 13, 1945) was an American chocolatier, businessman, and philanthropist. Trained in the confectionery business, Hershey pioneered the manufacture of caramel, using fresh milk. He launched t ...

(1857–1945), confectioner, philanthropist, and founder of The Hershey Chocolate Company *

Otto Frederick Hunziker Otto Frederick Hunziker (25 December 1873 – 16 November 1959) was a pioneer in the American and international dairy industry, as both an educator and a technical innovator. Hunziker was born and raised in Switzerland, emigrated to the U.S., a ...

(1873–1959), pioneer in the American and international dairy industry * S. S. Kresge (1867–1966), merchant, philanthropist and founder of the S. S. Kresge Company, now Sears Holdings Corporation. * Robert Lutz (born 1932), General Motors Vice Chairman of Product Development and Chairman of GM North America, the world's largest automaker *

Mark Spitznagel Mark Spitznagel (; born March 5, 1971) is an American investor and hedge fund manager. He is the founder, owner, and chief investment officer of Universa Investments, a hedge fund management firm based in Miami, Florida.James G. Sterchi (1867–1932), furniture store magnate *

Bruce Tognazzini Bruce "Tog" Tognazzini (born 1945) is an American usability consultant and designer. He is a partner in the Nielsen Norman Group, which specializes in human-computer interaction. He was with Apple Computer for fourteen years, then with Sun ...

(born 1945), usability consultant in partnership the

Nielsen Norman Group The Nielsen Norman Group (NN/g) is an American computer user interface and user experience consulting firm, founded in 1998 by Jakob Nielsen and Don Norman. Their work includes an analysis of the interface of Microsoft's Windows 8 operating syst ...

Albert Lee Ueltschi Albert Lee Ueltschi (May 15, 1917 – October 18, 2012) is considered the father of modern flight training and was the founder of FlightSafety International. Ueltschi was once personal pilot to Juan Trippe and an associate to Charles Lindberg ...

(1917–2012), considered the father of modern flight training and was the founder of FlightSafety

Arts and entertainment

Actors and directors

* René Murat Auberjonois (1940–2019), film actor *

Theda Bara Theda Bara ( ; born Theodosia Burr Goodman; July 29, 1885 – April 7, 1955) was an American silent film and stage actress. Bara was one of the more popular actresses of the silent era and one of cinema's early sex symbols. Her femme fatal ...

(1885–1955), silent film actress and sex symbol *

Wallace Beery Wallace Fitzgerald Beery (April 1, 1885 – April 15, 1949) was an American film and stage actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Bill in '' Min and Bill'' (1930) opposite Marie Dressler, as General Director Preysing in '' Grand Hotel'' ( ...

(1885–1949), film actor *

Berry Berenson Berinthia "Berry" Berenson-Perkins ( Berenson; April 14, 1948 – September 11, 2001) was an American actress, model and photographer. She was the widow of actor Anthony Perkins. She died in the September 11 attacks as a passenger on Americ ...

(1948–2001), photographer, actress, and model, mother of part Swiss descent *

Marisa Berenson Vittoria Marisa Schiaparelli Berenson (born February 15, 1947) is an American actress and model. She appeared on the front covers of ''Vogue'' and ''Time'', and won the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as ...

(born 1947), actress and model * Amy Brenneman (born 1964), film and TV actress, father of part Swiss descent *

Jeff Bridges Jeffrey Leon Bridges (born December 4, 1949) is an American actor. He has received various accolades throughout his career spanning over seven decades, including an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards. Bridges comes from a prominent ac ...

(born 1949), actor, singer, and producer *

Yul Brynner Yuliy Borisovich Briner (russian: link=no, Юлий Борисович Бринер; July 11, 1920 – October 10, 1985), known professionally as Yul Brynner, was a Russian-born actor. He was best known for his portrayal of King Mongkut in th ...

(1920–1985), actor, father of part Swiss descent *

James Caviezel James Patrick Caviezel Jr. (; born September 26, 1968) is an American film and television actor who played Jesus Christ in ''The Passion of the Christ'' (2004) and starred as John Reese on the CBS series ''Person of Interest'' (2011–2016). He ...

(born 1968), film actor, paternal grandfather of Swiss descent * Emily Deschanel (born 1976), actress, director, and producer *

Billie Dove Lillian Bohny (born Bertha Eugenie Bohny; May 14, 1903 – December 31, 1997), known professionally as Billie Dove, was an American actress. Early life and career Dove was born Bertha Eugenie Bohny in New York City in 1903 to Charles and Ber ...

(1903–1997), film actress *

Robert Downey Jr. Robert John Downey Jr. (born April 4, 1965) is an American actor and producer. His career has been characterized by critical and popular success in his youth, followed by a period of substance abuse and legal troubles, before a resurgence of ...

(born 1965), actor, mother of partial Swiss descent * Jon Hall (1915–1979), actor, Swiss father *

Nina Hartley Marie Louise Hartman (born March 11, 1959), known professionally as Nina Hartley, is an American pornographic film actress described by CNBC as "a legend in the adult world". Early life and education Hartley was born on March 11, 1959 in Ber ...

(born 1959), porn actress and director *

David Hayter David Hayter is a Canadian-American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer. He is well known as the English-language voice actor for Solid Snake and Naked Snake in the ''Metal Gear'' video game series. He wrote the film ''X-Men'' and co-w ...

(born 1969), actor and voice actor *

Tyler Hoechlin Tyler Lee Hoechlin (; born September 11, 1987) is an American actor. Initially earning recognition for starring as Michael Sullivan Jr. in the 2002 film ''Road to Perdition'', Hoechlin went on to star as Martin Brewer on '' 7th Heaven'' between ...

(born 1987), film actor, father of part Swiss descent *

Melia Kreiling Melia Kreiling (born ) is an actress. She is known for her roles on television series such as ''Tyrant'' and ''The Last Tycoon'', and for her starring role as Alycia in the second season of the CBS summer series ''Salvation''. She also has a bri ...

(born 1990), actress *

Q'Orianka Kilcher Q'orianka Waira Qoiana Kilcher (; born February 11, 1990) is an American actress, singer, and activist. Her best known film roles are Pocahontas in Terrence Malick's 2005 film '' The New World'', and Kaʻiulani in ''Princess Kaiulani'' (2009). ...

(born 1990), singer and actress, of part Swiss descent *

Taylor Lautner Taylor Daniel Lautner (; born February 11, 1992) is an American actor. He is best known for playing shapeshifter Jacob Black in '' The Twilight Saga'' film series. Lautner began his acting career playing bit parts in comedy series such as '' ...

(born 1992), actor *

Karina Lombard Karina Lombard is a Tahitian-born American actress. She appeared as Isabel Two in ''Legends of the Fall'', as chief Nonhelema in ''Timeless'', and as Marina Ferrer in the first season of ''The L Word''. She has also appeared in the films '' Wid ...

(born 1969), actress * George Lucas (born 1944), film director, of part Swiss descent *

Bridget Marquardt Bridget Marquardt (born September 25, 1974) is an American television personality and model, known for her role in the reality TV series ''The Girls Next Door'', which depicted her life as one of ''Playboy'' founder Hugh Hefner's girlfriends. A ...

(born 1975), model, actress *

Victor Mature Victor John Mature (January 29, 1913 – August 4, 1999) was an American stage, film, and television actor who was a leading man in Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s. His best known film roles include ''One Million B.C.'' (1940), '' My Darlin ...

(1913–1999), film actor * Nick Offerman (born 1970), actor, writer, comedian, and professional carpenter *

Jodi Ann Paterson Jodi Ann Paterson (born July 31, 1975) is an American model, actress and former beauty queen. She competed in the Miss Teen USA competition as Miss Oregon Teen USA in 1994. She is ''Playboy''s Playmate for October 1999, and was named Playmate of ...

(born 1975), model, actress and former beauty queen * Michelle Pfeiffer (born 1958), film actress, maternal grandfather of Swiss descent * Chris Pratt (born 1979), actor *

Ben Pronsky Ben Pronsky is an American voice and television actor. Career Pronsky studied regularly at the Larry Moss Studio and was founder and director of the Edgemar Film Festival in Santa Monica, California. He currently resides in Los Angeles. He has a ...

(born 1978), voice actor *

Kelly Rohrbach Kelly Rohrbach (born January 21, 1990) is an American actress and model, best known for her role as C. J. Parker in the film ''Baywatch''. Early life Was born in New York City and raised in Greenwich, Connecticut. She is the daughter of Anne (n ...

(born 1990), model and actress * Ryan Seacrest (born 1974), television and radio host, television producer, and entrepreneur, of part Swiss descent *

August Schellenberg August Werner Schellenberg (July 25, 1936 – August 15, 2013) was a Canadian actor. He played Randolph in the first three installments of the ''Free Willy'' film series (1993–1997) as well as characters in ''Black Robe'' (1991), '' The New Wor ...

(1936–2013), actor *

Liev Schreiber Isaac Liev Schreiber (; born October 4, 1967) is an American actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and narrator. He became known during the late 1990s and early 2000s after appearing in several independent films, and later mainstream Hollywo ...

(born 1967), film actor, father of part Swiss descent *

Meryl Streep Mary Louise Meryl Streep (born June 22, 1949) is an American actress. Often described as "the best actress of her generation", Streep is particularly known for her versatility and accent adaptability. She has received numerous accolades throu ...

(born 1949), film actress, father of part Swiss descent *

Evelyn Ward Evelyn Mae Ward (May 21, 1923 – December 23, 2012) was an American actress known from her stage musical performances and television appearances. Her son was the actor-singer David Cassidy. Background Ward was born and raised in West Orange, ...

(1923–2012), actress *

Paul Walker Paul William Walker IV (September 12, 1973 – November 30, 2013) was an American actor. He was known for his role as Brian O'Conner in the ''Fast & Furious'' franchise. Walker began his career as a child actor in the 1980s, gaining recogniti ...

(1973–2013), actor *

William Wyler William Wyler (; born Willi Wyler (); July 1, 1902 – July 27, 1981) was a Swiss-German-American film director and producer who won the Academy Award for Best Director three times, those being for '' Mrs. Miniver'' (1942), ''The Best Years of ...

(1902–1981), film director *

Darryl F. Zanuck Darryl Francis Zanuck (September 5, 1902December 22, 1979) was an American film producer and studio executive; he earlier contributed stories for films starting in the silent era. He played a major part in the Hollywood studio system as one of ...

(1902–1979), film producer and director *

Renée Zellweger Renée Kathleen Zellweger (; born April 25, 1969) is an American actress. The recipient of various accolades, including two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards, she was one of the world's highest-paid ...

(born 1969), film actress, Swiss-born fatherSwiss Roots: Renee Zellweger
*

Denis Ooi Denis may refer to: People * Saint Denis of Paris, 3rd-century Christian martyr and first bishop of Paris * Denis the Areopagite, Biblical figure * Denis, son of Ampud (died 1236), baron in the Kingdom of Hungary * Denis the Carthusian (1402–1 ...

, actor, Swiss-British-United States Citizen

Visual artists

* Scott Indermaur, photographer *

Herbert Matter Herbert Matter (April 25, 1907 – May 8, 1984) was a Swiss-born American photographer and graphic designer known for his pioneering use of photomontage in commercial art. Matter's innovative and experimental work helped shape the vocabulary of 20 ...

(1907–1984), photographer and graphic designer *

Adolfo Müller-Ury Adolfo Müller-Ury, KSG (March 29, 1862 – July 6, 1947) was a Swiss-born American portrait painter and impressionistic painter of roses and still life. Heritage and early life in Switzerland He was born Felice Adolfo Müller on 29 March ...

(1862–1947), portrait and impressionistic still-life painter *

Jeremiah Theus Jeremiah Theus (sometimes Jeremiah Theüs) (April 5, 1716 – May 17, 1774) was a Switzerland, Swiss-born United States, American painter, primarily of portraits. He was active mainly around Charleston, South Carolina, in which city he remained a ...

(1716–1774) of

Chur , neighboring_municipalities= Arosa, Churwalden, Tschiertschen-Praden, Domat/Ems, Felsberg, Malix, Trimmis, Untervaz, Pfäfers , twintowns = Bad Homburg (Germany), Cabourg (France), Mayrhofen (Austria), Mondorf-les-Bains (Luxe ...

, painter

Writers and publicists

* Fernand Auberjonois (1910–2004), journalist, foreign correspondent of the ''

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'', also known simply as the PG, is the largest newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Descended from the ''Pittsburgh Gazette'', established in 1786 as the first newspaper published west of the Alle ...

'' and the ''

Toledo Blade ''The Blade'', also known as the ''Toledo Blade'', is a newspaper in Toledo, Ohio published daily online and printed Thursday and Sunday by Block Communications. The newspaper was first published on December 19, 1835. Overview The first issue ...

'' *

Lisa Brennan-Jobs Lisa Nicole Brennan-Jobs ( Brennan; born May 17, 1978) is an American writer. She is the daughter of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and Chrisann Brennan. Jobs initially denied paternity for several years, which led to a legal case and various media ...

(born 1978), writer, daughter of Steve Jobs *

William F. Buckley Jr. William Frank Buckley Jr. (born William Francis Buckley; November 24, 1925 – February 27, 2008) was an American public intellectual, conservative author and political commentator. In 1955, he founded ''National Review'', the magazine that stim ...

(1925–2008), writer * Henry J. Eyring, author, educator, president of Brigham Young University-Idaho * A. C. Frieden (born 1966), novelist * Lorin Morgan-Richards, author and illustrator *

Sofia Samatar Sofia Samatar (born October 24, 1971) is an American poet, novelist and educator from Indiana. Early life Samatar was born in 1971 in northern Indiana, United States. Her father was the Somali scholar, historian and writer Said Sheikh Samatar. ...

(born 1971), poet and writer *

Mona Simpson Mona Simpson (née Jandali; June 14, 1957) is an American novelist. She has written six novels and studied English at the University of California, Berkeley and Languages and Literature at Columbia University. She won a Whiting Award for her fir ...

(born 1957), novelist *

Wendy Watson Nelson Wendy L. Watson Nelson (born May 31, 1950) is a Canadian-American marriage and family therapist, and professor. She worked with the Family Nursing Unit (FNU) at the University of Calgary (U of C) from 1983 to 1992, training graduate students to u ...

, Canadian-American, author, lecturer, educator, associate professor at University of Calgary *

Tessa Gräfin von Walderdorff Countess Tessa June von Walderdorff (german: Tessa June Gräfin von Walderdorff; born 20 February 1994), also known by her married name Tessa Hilton, is an American socialite, model, and real estate broker. She previously worked as an actress in ...

(born 1994), writer and socialite * Eudora Alice Welty (1909–2001), writer; ancestry can be traced to Emmental Valley of Switzerland; Swiss ancestral name Wälti

Musicians

* Melissa Auf der Maur (born 1972), singer *

Leon Botstein Leon Botstein (born December 14, 1946 in Zürich, Switzerland) is a Swiss-American conducting, conductor, educator, and scholar serving as the President of Bard College. Biography 1946–1975: Early life, education, and career Botstein was ...

(born 1946), conductor *

Rudolph Ganz Rudolph Ganz (24 February 1877 – 2 August 1972) was a Swiss-born American pianist, conductor, composer, and music educator. Career Early career as a pianist and conductor Born in Zurich, Ganz studied cello with Friedrich Hegar and piano w ...

(1877–1972), pianist, conductor and composer *

Edna Indermaur Edna Freda Indermaur (December 21, 1892 - January 10, 1985) was an American contralto singer. Biography Indermaur was born on December 21, 1892 in Buffalo, New York, United States. She was of Swiss descent and a member of the In der Maur fam ...

(1892–1985), singer *

Yung Gravy Matthew Raymond Hauri (born March 19, 1996), known professionally as Yung Gravy, is an American rapper. He first gained recognition in 2017, when his song "Mr. Clean" gained traction on SoundCloud, and is now RIAA certified Platinum. Since 201 ...

(born 1996), rapper, songwriter and producer. * Jewel (born 1974), singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and author *

Cyndi Lauper Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper Thornton (born June 22, 1953) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and activist. Her career has spanned over 40 years. Her album ''She's So Unusual'' (1983) was the first debut album by a female artist to achi ...

(born 1953), singer-songwriter and actress *

(born 1969), singer and actress *

Elvis Perkins Elvis Brooke Perkins (born February 9, 1976) is an American folk-rock musician. He released his debut studio album, '' Ash Wednesday'', in 2007. He subsequently toured in support of the album with his band Elvis Perkins in Dearland, composed o ...

(born 1976), singer-songwriter *

Tom Petty Thomas Earl Petty (October 20, 1950October 2, 2017) was an American musician who was the lead vocalist and guitarist of the rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, formed in 1976. He previously led the band Mudcrutch, was a member of the la ...

(1950–2017), singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, and actor * Dee Snider (born 1955), singer-songwriter *

Tina Turner Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939) is an American-born Swiss retired singer and actress. Widely referred to as the " Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", she rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue before ...

(1939–2023), singer-songwriter and actress (relinquished U.S. citizenship in 2013) * Eddie Vedder (born 1964), singer-songwriter and musician * Adam Yauch "MCA" (1964–2012), rapper, bass player, filmmaker, and founding member of the hip hop group Beastie Boys

Other

Mary Katherine Campbell Mary Katherine Campbell (December 18, 1905 – June 7, 1990) was the only person to win the Miss America pageant twice and the second woman in history to win the title. Early life and education Campbell's Miss America biography stated she is ...

(1905–1990), only Miss America winner to hold beauty title twice, 1922 & 1923; mother was of partial Swiss ancestry *

Gary Gygax Ernest Gary Gygax ( ; July 27, 1938 – March 4, 2008) was an American game designer and author best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') with Dave Arneson. In the 1960s, Gygax created an ...

(1938–2008), writer and game designer, co-creator of ''Dungeons & Dragons''

Law and politics

Governors and presidents

* Anthony Brown (born 1961), Governor of Maryland *

Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower; ; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was an American military officer and statesman who served as the 34th president of the United States from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, ...

(1890–1969), President of the United States *

Herbert Hoover Herbert Clark Hoover (August 10, 1874 – October 20, 1964) was an American politician who served as the 31st president of the United States from 1929 to 1933 and a member of the Republican Party, holding office during the onset of the Gr ...

(1874–1964), President of the United States *

Robert B. Meyner Robert Baumle Meyner (July 3, 1908 – May 27, 1990) was an American Democratic Party politician and attorney who served as the 44th governor of New Jersey from 1954 to 1962. Before being elected governor, Meyner represented Warren County in t ...

(1908–1990), Governor of New Jersey *

Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the ...

(born 1961), President of the United States (distant ancestors) *

Emanuel L. Philipp Emanuel Lorenz Philipp (March 25, 1861 – June 15, 1925) was an American railroad executive and politician from Wisconsin, who served as the 23rd governor of Wisconsin from 1915 to 1921. Early life Philipp was born in Honey Creek, Sauk Coun ...

(1861–1925), Governor of Wisconsin
"Swiss ancestry." *

Gretchen Whitmer Gretchen Esther Whitmer (born August 23, 1971) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 49th governor of Michigan since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, she served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006 ...

(1971), Governor of Michigan

Congressmen and senators

* James L. Buckley (born 1923), Senator from New York *

Albert Gallatin Abraham Alfonse Albert Gallatin (January 29, 1761 – August 12, 1849) was a Genevan–American politician, diplomat, ethnologist and linguist. Often described as "America's Swiss Founding Father", he was a leading figure in the early years o ...

(1761–1849), U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Senator of Pennsylvania, diplomat * James William Good (1866–1929), Congressman Iowa *

Herbert Hoover Jr. Herbert Charles Hoover (August 4, 1903 – July 9, 1969) was an engineer, businessman, and politician who served as United States Under Secretary of State from 1954 to 1957. He was the elder son of President Herbert Hoover. Biography Early yea ...

(1903–1960), Under Secretary of State * Amy Klobuchar (born 1960), Senator from Minnesota *

James S. Negley James Scott Negley (December 22, 1826 – August 7, 1901) was an American Civil War General, farmer, railroader, and U.S. Representative from the state of Pennsylvania. He played a key role in the Union victory at the Battle of Stones River. ...

(1826–1901), Congressman Pennsylvania * Robert Portman (born 1955), Senator from Ohio * Benjamin F. Welty (1870–1962), Congressman from Allen County, Ohio; ancestry traced back to Emmental Valley, Switzerland; Swiss ancestral name Wälti

Other

Warren E. Burger Warren Earl Burger (September 17, 1907 – June 25, 1995) was an American attorney and jurist who served as the 15th chief justice of the United States from 1969 to 1986. Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Burger graduated from the St. Paul Colleg ...

(1907–1995), Chief Justice of the United States from 1969 to 1986 *

Tucker Carlson Tucker Swanson McNear Carlson (born May 16, 1969) is an American television host, conservative political commentator and writer who has hosted the nightly political talk show '' Tucker Carlson Tonight'' on Fox News since 2016. Carlson began ...

(born 1969), political commentator and talk show host * August Claessens (1885–1954), politician, best known as one of the five New York Assemblymen *

(1761–1849), politician, ethnologist, linguist, founder of New York University, diplomat, and

United States Secretary of the Treasury The United States secretary of the treasury is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury, and is the chief financial officer of the federal government of the United States. The secretary of the treasury serves as the principal a ...

* Arthur L. Gilliom (1886–1968), Indiana Attorney General from 1925 to 1929 *

Fred Iklé Fred Charles Iklé (August 21, 1924 – November 10, 2011) was a Swiss-American sociologist and defense expert. Iklé's expertise was in defense and foreign policy, nuclear strategy, and the role of technology in the emerging international order. ...

(1924–2011),

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy The United States under secretary of defense for policy (USDP) is a high level civilian official in the United States Department of Defense. The under secretary of defense for policy is the principal staff assistant and adviser to both the secr ...

Thomas M. Honan Thomas Michael Honan (August 8, 1867 - September 21, 1932) was an United States of America, American lawyer and politician who served as the sixty-fifth List of speakers of the Indiana House of Representatives, Speaker of the Indiana House of Re ...

(1867–1932), Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives (from 1908 to 1910) and Indiana Attorney General (from 1911 to 1915) *

J. Edgar Hoover John Edgar Hoover (January 1, 1895 – May 2, 1972) was an American law enforcement administrator who served as the first Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He was appointed director of the Bureau of Investigation � ...

(1935–1972), first Director of the

FBI The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, t ...

Sid Meier Sidney K. Meier ( ; born February 24, 1954) is a Canadian-American programmer, game designer, designer, and video game producer, producer of several strategy video games and simulation video games, including the ''Civilization (series), Civiliz ...

(born 1954), prominent video game programmer and designer of the video game series Civilization. *

Wally Schirra Walter Marty Schirra Jr. (, March 12, 1923 – May 3, 2007) was an American naval aviator, test pilot, and NASA astronaut. In 1959, he became one of the original seven astronauts chosen for Project Mercury, which was the United States' f ...

(1923–2007), astronaut, only person to fly in all of America's first three space programs (Mercury, Gemini and Apollo) *

Joseph A. Shakspeare Joseph Ansoetegui Shakspeare (April 12, 1837 – 22 January 1896) was an American politician in Louisiana; he served as the elected mayor of New Orleans from 1880 to 1882 and from 1888 to 1892. He previously was elected for one term in the st ...

(1837–1896), politician, elected mayor of New Orleans from 1880 to 1882 * Samuel F. Snively (1859–1952), Mayor of

Duluth, Minnesota , settlement_type = City , nicknames = Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City , motto = , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top: urban Duluth skyline; Minnesota ...

Peter Staub Peter Staub (February 22, 1827 – May 19, 1904) was a Swiss-born American businessman, politician, and diplomat. He immigrated to the United States in 1854, and moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1856, where he lived for most of the remainde ...

(1827–1904), Mayor of

Knoxville, Tennessee Knoxville is a city in and the county seat of Knox County in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 United States census, Knoxville's population was 190,740, making it the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Division and the state' ...

* Mike Thompson (born 1951), California House of Representatives * William Wirt (1772–1834), author and statesman who is credited with turning the position of United States Attorney General into one of influence; Swiss father. *

Henry Wisner Henry Wisner (c. 1720 – March 4, 1790) was a miller from Goshen, New York. He was a Patriot leader during the American Revolution who voted for Independence on July 4, 1776, at the creation of the Declaration of Independence, and represented Ne ...

(1720–1790), patriot leader during 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 ...

and New York representative in the Continental Congress. * Dan Zumbach (born 1960), Iowa Senator

Military

Henry Bouquet Henry Bouquet (born Henri Louis Bouquet; 1719 – 2 September 1765) was a Swiss mercenary who rose to prominence in British service during the French and Indian War and Pontiac's War. He is best known for his victory over a Native American ...

, prominent Army officer in the French and Indian War and Pontiac's War *

Edward Walter Eberle Edward Walter Eberle (August 17, 1864 – July 6, 1929) was an admiral in the United States Navy, who served as Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy and the third Chief of Naval Operations. Early years Edward Walter Eberle was b ...

(1864–1929), admiral in the United States Navy, served as Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy and third Chief of Naval Operations * Al Ulmer (1916-2000), a major head of U.S. intelligence operations during World War II and part of the Cold War *

Henry Wirz Henry Wirz (born Hartmann Heinrich Wirz, November 25, 1823 – November 10, 1865) was a Swiss-American officer of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He was the commandant of the stockade of Camp Sumter, a Confederate pri ...

(1822–1865), only Confederate soldier executed in the aftermath of the American Civil War for war crimes *

Felix Zollicoffer Felix Kirk Zollicoffer (May 19, 1812 – January 19, 1862) was an American newspaperman, slave owner, politician, and soldier. A three-term United States Congressman from Tennessee, an officer in the United States Army, and a Confederate brigad ...

(1812–1862), newspaperman, three-term US Congressman from Tennessee, officer in the United States Army, and a Confederate brigadier general during the American Civil War

Religion

* Henry B. Eyring (born 1933), educator, Stanford University professor, Presiding Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints *

Daniel Kumler Flickinger Daniel Kumler Flickinger (25 May 1824 – 29 August 1911) was an American bishop of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, elected in 1885. He was the twenty-fifth Bishop of this Christian denomination, and the first elected to the office ...

(1824–1911), Bishop of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ *

Martin Marty Martin Emil Marty (born on February 5, 1928) is an American Lutheran religious scholar who has written extensively on religion in the United States. Early life and education Marty was born on February 5, 1928, in West Point The United Sta ...

(1834–1886), Benedictine priest *

Philip Schaff Philip Schaff (January 1, 1819 – October 20, 1893) was a Swiss-born, German-educated Protestant theologian and ecclesiastical historian, who spent most of his adult life living and teaching in the United States. Biography Schaff was born ...

(1819–1893), Protestant theologian and a historian of the Christian church

Scientists and engineers

* Alexander Emanuel Agassiz (1835–1910), geologist and zoologist * Louis Agassiz (1807–1873), zoologist, glaciologist, and geologist, the husband of educator Elizabeth Cabot Cary Agassiz, and one of the first world-class American scientists * Berni Alder (1925–2020), physicist * David Alter (1807–1881), inventor, almost discovered spectroscopy *

Othmar Ammann Othmar Hermann Ammann (March 26, 1879 – September 22, 1965) was a Swiss-American civil engineer whose bridge designs include the George Washington Bridge, Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, and Bayonne Bridge. He also directed the planning and constru ...

(1879–1965), civil engineer *

Adolph Francis Alphonse Bandelier Adolph Francis Alphonse Bandelier (August 6, 1840March 18, 1914) was a Swiss-born American archaeologist who particularly explored the indigenous cultures of the American Southwest, Mexico, and South America. He immigrated to the United States wit ...

(1840–1914), archeologist *

Felix Bloch Felix Bloch (23 October 1905 – 10 September 1983) was a Swiss-American physicist and Nobel physics laureate who worked mainly in the U.S. He and Edward Mills Purcell were awarded the 1952 Nobel Prize for Physics for "their development of new ...

(1905–1983), physicist *

Armand Borel Armand Borel (21 May 1923 – 11 August 2003) was a Swiss mathematician, born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, and was a permanent professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, United States from 1957 to 1993. He worked in alg ...

(1923–2003), mathematician * Wilhelm (Willy) Burgdorfer (1925-2014), medical entomologist * Hans R. Camenzind (1934–2012), inventor of the

555 timer IC The 555 timer IC is an integrated circuit (chip) used in a variety of timer, delay, pulse generation, and Electronic oscillator, oscillator applications. Derivatives provide two (#556 dual timer, 556) or four (#558 quad timer, 558) timing circui ...

Florian Cajori Florian Cajori (February 28, 1859 – August 14 or 15, 1930) was a Swiss-American historian of mathematics. Biography Florian Cajori was born in Zillis, Switzerland, as the son of Georg Cajori and Catherine Camenisch. He attended schools first ...

(1859–1930), mathematician * Robert Frank (1924–2019), important figure in American photography and film *

Albert Einstein Albert Einstein ( ; ; 14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist, widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest and most influential physicists of all time. Einstein is best known for developing the theory ...

(1879–1955), theoretical physicist widely regarded as the most important scientist of the 20th century and one of the greatest physicists of all time * Henry Eyring (1901–1981), Mexican born American, theoretical chemist, associate of Albert Einstein *

Edmond H. Fischer Edmond Henri Fischer (April 6, 1920 – August 27, 2021) was a Swiss-American biochemist. He and his collaborator Edwin G. Krebs were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1992 for describing how reversible phosphorylation works ...

(1920–2021), biochemist *

Walter Gautschi Walter Gautschi (born December 11, 1927) is a Swiss- American mathematician, known for his contributions to numerical analysis. He has authored over 200 papers in his area and published four books. Born in Basel, he has a Ph.D. in mathematics fr ...

(born 1927), mathematician *

(1873–1959), dairy educator and technologist *

Josias Joesler Josias Thomas Joesler was a Swiss-American Tucson, Arizona architect. Life and work Joesler was born in 1895 in Zurich, Switzerland. His architectural legacy would come to articulate the romantic revival Tucson style of the first half of the 20 ...

(1895–1927), architect *

John Kruesi John Kruesi (May 15, 1843 – February 22, 1899) was a Swiss-born machinist, and close associate of Thomas Edison. Career John Kruesi had been apprenticed as a locksmith in Switzerland, and migrated to the United States where he settled in N ...

(1843–1899), inventor and close associate of Thomas Edison * Adolf Meyer (1866–1950), psychiatrist *

Jean Piccard Jean Felix Piccard (January 28, 1884 in Basel, Switzerland – January 28, 1963 in Minneapolis, Minnesota), also known as Jean Piccard, was a Swiss-born American chemist, engineer, professor and high-altitude balloonist. He invented cluster ...

(1884–1963), scientist and high-altitude balloonist *

Louis François de Pourtalès Louis François de Pourtalès (4 March 1824 – 18 July 1880) was a Franco- American naturalist, born at Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Early life and education Pourtales was born on 4 March 1824 and regarded as a Swiss representative of an old ...

(1824–1880), naturalist *

Adolph Rickenbacker Adolph Rickenbacker (April 1, 1887 – March 21, 1976) was a Swiss-American electrical engineer who co-founded the Rickenbacker guitar company along with George Beauchamp and Paul Barth. Rickenbacker was born in Basel, Switzerland as Adolf Ric ...

(1886–1976), pioneer of the electric guitar; founder of the

Rickenbacker Rickenbacker International Corporation is a string instrument manufacturer based in Santa Ana, California. The company is credited as the first known maker of electric guitars – a steel guitar in 1932 – and today produces a rang ...

guitar company, whose products would be an important influence on 1960s music through, among others,

The Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developmen ...

The Who The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist and singer John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered ...

and

The Byrds The Byrds () were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1964. The band underwent multiple lineup changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn (known as Jim McGuinn until mid-1967) remaining the sole cons ...

Eddie Rickenbacker Edward Vernon Rickenbacker or Eddie Rickenbacker (October 8, 1890 – July 23, 1973) was an American fighter pilot in World War I and a Medal of Honor recipient.Louis Sullivan Louis Henry Sullivan (September 3, 1856 – April 14, 1924) was an American architect, and has been called a "father of skyscrapers" and "father of modernism". He was an influential architect of the Chicago School, a mentor to Frank Lloy ...

(1856–1924), American architect, and has been called a "father of skyscrapers" *

Max Theiler Max Theiler (30 January 1899 – 11 August 1972) was a South African-American virologist and physician. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1951 for developing a vaccine against yellow fever in 1937, becoming the first ...

(1899–1972), virologist, awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for developing a vaccine against yellow fever

Sports

Valeri Bure Valeri Vladimirovich "Val" Bure (; rus, Валерий Владимирович Буре, p=vɐˈlʲerʲɪj bʊˈrɛ; born June 13, 1974) is a Russian-American former ice hockey right winger. He played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League ( ...

(born 1974), former ice hockey player, naturalized American citizen * Martin Buser (born 1958), champion of sled dog racing *

(1878–1941), racing driver; founder of the Chevrolet Motor Car Company, now the most famous brand of General Motors * Joey Daccord (born 1996), NHL goaltender currently playing for the

Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators (french: Sénateurs d'Ottawa), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a membe ...

; born in Boston to a Swiss mother *

Phil Dalhausser Philip "Phil" Peter Dalhausser (born January 26, 1980) is a Swiss-born American professional beach volleyball player, playing as a blocker. He and his former playing partner, Todd Rogers, were the 2007 AVP Tour and FIVB world champions. Dalha ...

(born 1980),

Olympic Olympic or Olympics may refer to Sports Competitions * Olympic Games, international multi-sport event held since 1896 ** Summer Olympic Games ** Winter Olympic Games * Ancient Olympic Games, ancient multi-sport event held in Olympia, Greece b ...

beach volleyball champion; born in

Baden Baden (; ) is a historical territory in South Germany, in earlier times on both sides of the Upper Rhine but since the Napoleonic Wars only East of the Rhine. History The margraves of Baden originated from the House of Zähringen. Baden i ...

to German father and Swiss mother *

Brett Favre Brett Lorenzo Favre ( ; born October 10, 1969) is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 20 seasons, primarily with the Green Bay Packers. Favre had 321 consecutive starts from 1992 to 201 ...

(born 1969), former NFL quarterback *

Bobby Fischer Robert James Fischer (March 9, 1943January 17, 2008) was an American chess grandmaster and the eleventh World Chess Champion. A chess prodigy, he won his first of a record eight US Championships at the age of 14. In 1964, he won with an 1 ...

(1943–2008), controversial world chess champion *

Dan Fritsche Daniel J. Fritsche (born July 13, 1985) is a Swiss- American former professional ice hockey forward. He played for Genève-Servette HC, HC Lugano and the ZSC Lions in the National League (NL) and in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Colum ...

(born 1985), former ice hockey player *

Pudge Heffelfinger William Walter "Pudge" Heffelfinger (December 20, 1867 – April 2, 1954), also spelled Hafelfinger, was an American football player and coach. He is considered the first athlete to play American football professionally, having been paid to pl ...

(1867–1954), first professional football player *

Jeff Hostetler William Jeffrey Hostetler (born April 22, 1961) is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants, Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, and Washington Redskins. His nickname is "Hoss." College career ...

(born 1961), quarterback in the NFL for the New York Giants, Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, and Washington Redskins. *

Fred Merkle Carl Frederick Rudolf Merkle (also sometimes documented as Frederick Charles Merkle; December 20, 1888 – March 2, 1956), nicknamed "Bonehead", was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball from 1907 to 1926. Although he had a lengthy c ...

(1888–1956), baseball player *

Alexia Paganini Alexia Paganini (born November 15, 2001) is a Swiss-American figure skater who currently represents Switzerland in ladies' singles. She is the 2020 CS Nebelhorn Trophy silver medalist, the 2018 Halloween Cup champion, the 2017 Slovenia Open ...

(born 2001), figure skater, Swiss father *

Alexander Ritschard Alexander Ritschard (born March 24, 1994) is a Swiss–American tennis player. He has a career high ATP singles ranking of World No. 163 achieved on 12 September 2022. He also has a career high ATP doubles ranking of World No. 388 achieved on 4 ...

(born 1994), tennis player, naturalized American citizen *

Ben Roethlisberger Benjamin Todd Roethlisberger Sr. (; born March 2, 1982), nicknamed "Big Ben", is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college football ...

(born 1982), quarterback in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers *

Simone Schaller Simone Estelle Schaller Kirin (August 22, 1912 – October 20, 2016) was an American hurdler who competed in the 80 m event at two Olympic Games. She placed fourth in 1932, and was eliminated in the semi-finals in 1936. Originally from Connecti ...

(1912–2016), Olympic hurdler, Swiss father *

Cory Schneider Cory Franklin Schneider (born March 18, 1986) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Bridgeport Islanders in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). H ...

(born 1986), NHL goaltender * Rudolph "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone (1913–1996), perhaps the best known pool player in the United States *

Ben Zobrist Benjamin Thomas Zobrist (; born May 26, 1981), is an American former professional baseball second baseman and outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays/Rays, Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals, and Chi ...

, second baseman in Major League Baseball

Other

* Helen Keller (1880–1968), author, political activist and lecturer; first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree * Christoph Meili (born 1968), whistleblower *

Chesley Sullenberger Chesley Burnett "Sully" Sullenberger III (born January 23, 1951) is a retired American fighter pilot, diplomat, and airline pilot best known for his heroism as captain of US Airways Flight 1549 that he ditched in the Hudson River in 2009 af ...

(born 1951), airline transport pilot who successfully carried out the emergency ditching of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River, saving the lives of the 155 people on the aircraft

References

External links

List of Swiss-Americans

Forefathers in Switzerland

OltreconfiniTi, the official website dedicated to Ticinese emigration

San Joaquin Valley Swiss Club (California, US)

Swiss American Historical Society
{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Swiss Americans Swiss *

Americans Americans are the citizens and nationals of the United States of America.; ; Although direct citizens and nationals make up the majority of Americans, many dual citizens, expatriates, and permanent residents could also legally claim Ame ...

Swiss

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List by occupation

Business

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Writers and publicists

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Law and politics

Governors and presidents

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Military

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Scientists and engineers

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See also

References

External links