This is a list of prominent people who were born in the state of

Rhode Island Rhode Island ( ) is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Connecticut to its west; Massachusetts to its north and east; and the Atlantic Ocean to its south via Rhode Island Sound and Block Is ...

or who spent significant periods of their lives in the state.

Academia

* James Burrill Angell (1829–1916) – educator, academic administrator, and diplomat *

Glen Bowersock Glen Warren Bowersock (born January 12, 1936) is a historian of ancient Greece, Rome and the Near East, and former chairman of Harvard’s classics department. Early life Bowersock was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and attended The Rivers Sc ...

(born 1936) – scholar of the ancient world and the history of ancient Greece, Rome, and the Near East * David Carlin (born 1938) – professor of sociology and philosophy at Community College of Rhode Island *

Robert Carothers Robert Lee Carothers (born September 3, 1942),Robert Lee Carothers. The Complete Marquis Who's Who (R) Biographies, Copyright 2017 Marquis Who's Who Ventures, LLC. a writer and poet, served as chancellor of the Minnesota State University System ...

(born 1942) – president of the

University of Rhode Island The University of Rhode Island (URI) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Kingston, Rhode Island, United States. It is the flagship public research as well as the land-grant university of Rhode Island. The univer ...

* Ronald Champagne – president of

Elmira College Elmira College is a private college in Elmira, New York, United States. Founded as a Timeline of women's colleges in the United States#First and oldest, college for women in 1855, it is the oldest existing college granting degrees to women that ...

Merrimack College Merrimack College is a Private university, private Order of Saint Augustine, Augustinian university in North Andover, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1947 by the Order of St. Augustine with an initial goal to educate World War II veterans. It en ...

, and

Shimer College Shimer Great Books School ( ) is a Classic_book#University_programs, Great Books college that is part of North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. Prior to 2017, Shimer was an independent, accredited college on the south side of Chicago, or ...

* Sarah Doyle (1830–1922) – educator and reformer *

Paula Fredriksen Paula Fredriksen (born January 6, 1951, Kingston, Rhode Island) is an American historian and scholar of early Christianity. She held the position of William Goodwin Aurelio Professor of Scripture at Boston University from 1990 to 2010. Now emerita ...

(born 1951) – historian and scholar of religious studies *

Henry Giroux Henry Armand Giroux (born September 19, 1943) is an American and Canadian scholar and cultural critic. One of the founding theorists of critical pedagogy in the United States, he is best known for his pioneering work in public pedagogy, cultural ...

(born 1943) – radical educator and cultural critic * Neil Lanctot (born 1966) – historian * Francis Leo Lawrence (1937–2013) – educator, scholar of French literature, and university administrator * Edward T. Lewis (also known as Ted Lewis) – president of

St. Mary's College of Maryland St. Mary's College of Maryland (SMCM) is a Public college, public Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in St. Mary's City, Maryland.Maryland State Archives, Online Manual, "St. Mary's College Of Maryland: Origin & Fun ...

, president of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, writer, and poet * Helen Adelia Rowe Metcalf (1830–1895) – founder and director of the

Rhode Island School of Design The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD , pronounced "Riz-D") is a private art and design school in Providence, Rhode Island. The school was founded as a coeducational institution in 1877 by Helen Adelia Rowe Metcalf, who sought to increase th ...

* Barry Mills (born 1950) – fourteenth president of

Bowdoin College Bowdoin College ( ) is a Private college, private liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine. It was chartered in 1794. The main Bowdoin campus is located near Casco Bay and the Androscoggin River. In a ...

* Salvatore D. Morgera (born 1946) – Professor of Electrical Engineering at

University of South Florida The University of South Florida (USF) is a Public university, public research university with its main campus located in Tampa, Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States, and other campuses in St. Petersburg, Florida, St. Petersburg and Sarasota, ...

* Wilfred Harold Munro (1849–1934) – historian *

Richard Vangermeersch Richard G.J. Vangermeersch (born 1940) is an American economist, and Emeritus Professor of Accounting at the University of Rhode Island, particularly known for his ''History of Accounting: An International Encyclopedia,'' edited with Michael Chat ...

(born 1940) – economist, Emeritus Professor of Accounting at the University of Rhode Island *

Minton Warren Minton Warren (29 January 1850 – 26 November 1907), American classical scholar, was born at Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on 29 January 1850, a descendant of Richard Warren, who sailed on the ''Mayflower'' in 1620. Biography Warren was educated at ...

(1850–1907) – classical scholar

Activism, civil rights, and philanthropy

Susan Hammond Barney Susan Hammond Barney (, Hammond; November 24, 1834 – April 29, 1922) was an American social activist and evangelist. She was the founder of the Prisoners' Aid Society of Rhode Island, and due to her efforts, police matrons were secured for the ...

(1834-1922) — social activist * Josephine Byrd — civil rights activist in Woonsocket, RI * Zechariah Chafee (1885–1957) – judicial philosopher, civil rights advocate * Elizabeth Buffum Chace (1806–1899) – activist in the anti-slavery, women's-rights, and prison-reform movements of the mid-to-late 19th century * Ann Keefe – social activist and nun (1952–2015) * Richard Holcomb (born 1976) — human rights advocate, street outreach worker, HIV prevention counselor, and co-founder of Project Weber/Renew * Cornelia Bryce Pinchot (1881–1960) – Newport native who became a conservationist, Progressive politician, women's rights activist, and First Lady of Pennsylvania * Mary Reilly (born 1930) — teacher, leader, advocate for girls and women living in poverty *

Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Abigail Greene Aldrich Rockefeller (October 26, 1874 – April 5, 1948) was an American socialite and philanthropist. She was a prominent member of the Rockefeller family through her marriage to financier and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller ...

(1874–1948) – philanthropist * Marvin Ronning (1961–2022) — education and environmental advocate; senior administrator at the Rhode Island Free Clinic * Juanita Sánchez (died 1992) — social worker and social activist * Robert Ellis Smith (1940–2018) – publisher and consumer activist, ''Privacy Journal''; civil rights journalist in Alabama * Dorcas James Spencer (1841-1933) – social activist and writer * Marjorie van Vliet (1923–1990) – teacher and aviator

Art, literature, and design

Jacob M. Appel Jacob M. Appel (born February 21, 1973) is an American polymath, author, bioethicist, physician, lawyer, and social critic.Nagamatsu, Sequoia "A Few Words with the Ubiquitous Jacob M. Appel" ''Prince Mincer'' Journal http://primemincer.com/ con ...

(born 1973) – novelist * John Noble Barlow (1861–1917) – painter *

Lee Bontecou Lee Bontecou (January 15, 1931 – November 8, 2022) was an American sculptor and printmaker and a pioneer figure in the New York art world. She kept her work consistently in a recognizable style, and received broad recognition in the 1960s. Bont ...

(born 1931) – sculptor and printmaker * Mary H. Gray Clarke (1835-1892) — author, correspondent, and poet *

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 ...

(1878–1942) – playwright, composer, and vaudeville performer * Paul Di Filippo (born 1954) – science fiction author and critic *

Denise Duhamel Denise Duhamel (born 1961 in Woonsocket, Rhode Island) is an American poet. Background Duhamel received her B.F.A. from Emerson College and her M.F.A. from Sarah Lawrence College. She is a New York Foundation for the Arts recipient and has been r ...

(born 1961) – poet * Judith Dupré – author * C. M. Eddy Jr. (1896–1967) – author * Jeanpaul Ferro – poet, short fiction author, novelist * F. Burge Griswold (1826–1900) — author * John Hawkes (1925–1998) – novelist * Greta Hodgkinson – ballet dancer * Ann Hood (born 1956) – novelist and short story writer * Raymond Mathewson Hood (1881–1934) – architect *

Galway Kinnell Galway Mills Kinnell (February 1, 1927 – October 28, 2014) was an American poet. His dark poetry emphasized scenes and experiences in threatening, ego-less natural environments. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for his 1982 collection, ''Se ...

– poet * Eleanor Kirk (1831–1908) — author, publisher * Christopher La Farge –novelist and poet *

Jhumpa Lahiri Nilanjana Sudeshna "Jhumpa" LahiriMinzesheimer, Bob, ''USA Today'', August 19, 2003. Retrieved on 2008-04-13. (born July 11, 1967) is a British-American author known for her short stories, novels, and essays in English and, more recently, in I ...

–

Pulitzer Prize The Pulitzer Prizes () are 23 annual awards given by Columbia University in New York City for achievements in the United States in "journalism, arts and letters". They were established in 1917 by the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who had made his fo ...

-author *

H. P. Lovecraft Howard Phillips Lovecraft (, ; August 20, 1890 – March 15, 1937) was an American writer of Weird fiction, weird, Science fiction, science, fantasy, and horror fiction. He is best known for his creation of the Cthulhu Mythos. Born in Provi ...

(1890–1937) – author * Maxwell Mays (1918–2009) – painter * David Macaulay (born 1946) – author *

Cormac McCarthy Cormac McCarthy (born Charles Joseph McCarthy Jr.; July 20, 1933 – June 13, 2023) was an American author who wrote twelve novels, two plays, five screenplays, and three short stories, spanning the Western, post-apocalyptic, and Southern Got ...

(born 1933) – novelist *

Don McGregor Donald Francis McGregor (born June 15, 1945) is an American comic book writer best known for his work for Marvel Comics; he is the author of one of the first graphic novels. Early life Don McGregor was born in Providence, Rhode Island, where he ...

(born 1945) – comic book writer * Edwin O'Connor (1918–1968) – novelist * S.J. Perelman (1904–1979) – humorist, critic * Peter Pezzelli (born 1959) – author * David Plante (born 1940) – novelist * George Schuyler (1895–1977) – author *

Bert Shurtleff Bertrand Leslie Shurtleff (3 Aug. 1897 – 15 Feb. 1967) was an American football offensive lineman who spent three seasons in the National Football League with the Providence Steam Roller (1925-1926) and the Boston Bulldogs (1929) after p ...

(1897–1967) – author *

Gilbert Stuart Gilbert Stuart ( Stewart; December 3, 1755 – July 9, 1828) was an American painter born in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Rhode Island Colony who is widely considered one of America's foremost portraitists. His best-k ...

(1755–1828) – painter * Philemon Sturges (1929–2005) – architect and children's author * Cynthia Taggart (1801–1849) — poet * Thomas Alexander Tefft (1826–1859) – architect * Chrysanthemum Tran — poet * Trav S.D. — author, playwright, arts journalist *

Don Winslow Don Winslow (born October 31, 1953) is an American political activist and retired author best known for his crime novels including ''Savages (novel), Savages'', ''The Force'' and the Cartel Trilogy. Early life Winslow was born on Staten Isl ...

(born 1953) – author

Athletics

;A–G * Lou Abbruzzi (1917–1982) – football player * Pat Abbruzzi (1932–1998) – football player * Noel Acciari (born 1991) – ice hockey player *

Gary Albright Gary Mitchell Albright (May 18, 1963 – January 7, 2000) was an American professional wrestler best known for his work in Japan, first with UWF International (UWFi), and later All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW). In AJPW, Albright was a two ...

(1963–2000) – wrestler * Bill Almon (born 1952) – baseball player * Deon Anderson (born 1983) – football player *

Billy Andrade William Thomas Andrade (born January 25, 1964) is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Champions Tour. He was previously a member of the PGA Tour, where he was a four-time winner. Early life Andrade was born in Bris ...

(born 1964) – golfer *

Demetrius Andrade Demetrius Cesar Andrade ( ; born February 26, 1988) is an American professional boxer. He has held multiple world championships in two weight classes, at light middleweight and middleweight. As an amateur, he won the U.S. national championship ...

(born 1988) – boxer * Earl Audet (1921–2002) – football player * Rocco Baldelli (born 1981) – baseball player, manager *

Marvin Barnes Marvin Jerome "Bad News" Barnes (July 27, 1952 – September 8, 2014) was an American professional basketball player. A forward (basketball), forward, he was an NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans, All-American at Providence College, and played p ...

(1952–2014) – basketball player * Elizabeth Beisel (born 1992) – Olympic swimmer (2008, 2012) *

Jeff Beliveau Jeffrey Ryan Beliveau (born January 17, 1987) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, and Cleveland Indians. ...

(born 1987) – baseball player * Curt Bennett (born 1948) – ice hockey player * Harvey Bennett (born 1952) – ice hockey player * John Bennett (born 1950) – ice hockey player * Bryan Berard (born 1977) – ice hockey player *

Will Blackmon William Edwards Blackmon (born October 27, 1984) is an American former professional football safety and return specialist. He played college football for the Boston College Eagles, and was selected in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL draft by ...

(born 1984) – football player *

Brian Boucher Brian Boucher ( ; born January 2, 1977) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender who is a game analyst on national TNT games and also Philadelphia Flyers games on NBC Sports Philadelphia. He played 13 seasons in the National Ho ...

(born 1977) – ice hockey player * Pedro Braz (born 1985) – soccer player * Paul Briggs (1920–2011) – football player * Ellison "Tarzan" Brown (1913–1975) – two-time Boston Marathon champion and U.S. Olympian * Brian Burke (born 1955) – ice hockey executive * Ernie Calverley (1924–2003) – basketball player * Dave Capuano (born 1968) – ice hockey player *

Jack Capuano Jack C. Capuano Jr. (born July 7, 1966) is an American ice hockey coach and former player. He is a former head coach of the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is currently an associate coach for the Minnesota Wild of the N ...

(born 1966) – ice hockey player, head coach * Keith Carney (born 1970) – ice hockey player and U.S. Olympian (1998) * Marissa Castelli (born 1990) – Olympic pairs figure skater (2014) *

Tom Cavanagh Thomas Cavanagh (born October 26, 1963) is a Canadian actor. He is known for a variety of roles on American television, including starring roles in ''Ed (TV series), Ed'' (2000–2004), ''Love Monkey'' (2006) and ''Trust Me (American TV series) ...

(1982–2011) – hockey player * Malcolm Chance (1875–1955) –

Hall of Fame A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or Wiktionary:fame, fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actu ...

tennis player * Mike Cloud (born 1975) – football player * Fred Corey (1855–1912) – baseball player *

Miguel Cotto Miguel Ángel Cotto Vázquez (born October 29, 1980) is a Puerto Rican former professional boxer who competed from 2001 to 2017. He is a multiple-time world champion, and the first Puerto Rican boxer to win quadruple champion, world titles in fo ...

(born 1980) – boxer *

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 tournament main draws; her best result coming in the 2005 Wimbledon C ...

(born 1974) – tennis player * Sara DeCosta (born 1977) – Olympic ice hockey champion and silver medalist (1998, 2002) *

Al Del Greco Albert Louis Del Greco (born March 2, 1962) is an American former professional American football, football placekicker and a current sports radio personality. After eight years as golf coach at Spain Park High School in Hoover, Alabama, Del Grec ...

(born 1962) – football player, radio personality *

Ernie DiGregorio Ernest DiGregorio (born January 15, 1951), also known as "Ernie D.", is an American former professional basketball player. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Buffalo Braves, Los Angeles Lakers, and Boston Celtics from ...

(born 1951) – basketball player * Clark Donatelli (born 1967) – ice hockey player and U.S. Olympian (1988, 1992) * Allen Doyle (born 1948) – golfer * Pat Duff (1875–1925) – baseball player *

David Duke Jr. David Duke Jr. (born October 13, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Austin Spurs of the NBA G League. He played college baske ...

(born 1999) – basketball player * Anthony Durante (1967–2003) – professional wrestler * Joe Exter (born 1978) – ice hockey player *

Brad Faxon Bradford John Faxon Jr. (born August 1, 1961) is an American professional golfer. He has won eight times on the PGA Tour. Early life and amateur career Faxon was born in Oceanport, New Jersey and raised in Barrington, Rhode Island. He attended F ...

(born 1961) – golfer * Claire Waters Ferguson (born 1936) – ice skating executive * Melissa Fiorentino (born 1977) – boxer *

Steve Furness Stephen Robert Furness (December 5, 1950 – February 9, 2000) was an American professional American football, football defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL), and a member of the St ...

(1950–2000) – football player, coach * Tom Garrick (born 1966) – basketball player *

Rob Gaudreau Robert Rene Gaudreau (born January 20, 1970) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League from 1992 to 1996 with the San Jose Sharks and Ottawa Senators. Internationally Gaudreau played for the A ...

(born 1970) – ice hockey player * Dave Gavitt (1937–2011) – basketball coach * Billy Gonsalves (1908–1977) – soccer player * Lou Gorman (1929–2011) – baseball executive * Paul Guay (born 1963) – ice hockey player ;H–Z * Gabby Hartnett (1900–1972) – baseball player * Joe Hassett (born 1955) – basketball player * Tom Healey (1853–1891) – baseball player * Anne Hird (born 1959) — pioneering marathon runner * P. H. Horgan III (born 1960) – golfer * Tony Horton (born 1958) – physical fitness expert * Robert Howard (1975–2004) – 1996 and 2000 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team * John Hynes (born 1975) – ice hockey head coach *

Matt Hyson Matthew Jonathan Hyson (born August 13, 1970) is an American semi-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 ...

(born 1970) – wrestler *

Chris Iannetta Christopher Domenic Iannetta (, ; born April 8, 1983) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Seattle Mariners, and Arizona Diamondbac ...

(born 1983) – baseball player * Drew Inzer (born 1979) – football player * Jeff Jillson (born 1980) – ice hockey player * Steven King (born 1969) – ice hockey player * Tyler Kolek – basketball 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 s ...

(born 1976) – baseball player *

Clem Labine Clement Walter Labine (August 6, 1926 – March 2, 2007) was an American right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) best known for his years with the Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers from 1950 to 1960. As a key member of the Dod ...

(1926–2007) – baseball player *

Nap Lajoie Napoléon Lajoie (; September 5, 1874 – February 7, 1959), also known as Larry Lajoie, was an American professional baseball second baseman who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Nicknamed "the Frenchman", he represented both Ph ...

(1874–1959) – Hall of Fame baseball player * Clara LaMore (1926–2021) –

International Swimming Hall of Fame The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum (ISHOF) is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests and serving as the central point for the stu ...

inductee *

Lou Lamoriello Louis A. Lamoriello (; born October 21, 1942) is an Americans, American professional ice hockey executive who most recently served as the President of Hockey Operations and General Manager for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League ...

(born 1942) – ice hockey executive *

Rick Lancellotti Richard Anthony Lancellotti (born July 5, 1956) is an American former first baseman-outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the San Diego Padres (), San Francisco Giants () and Boston Red Sox (). He batted and threw left-handed. Lanc ...

(born 1956) – baseball player * John LaRose (1951–2021) – baseball player * Brian Lawton (born 1965) – hockey player *

Ricky Ledo Ricardo Julio Ledo (born September 10, 1992) is an American professional basketball player for the Beirut Club of the Lebanese Basketball League. He committed to play for the Providence Friars, but the National Collegiate Athletic Association ( ...

(born 1992) – basketball player *

Ed Lee Edwin Mah Lee (May 5, 1952 – December 12, 2017) was an American politician and attorney who served as the 43rd Mayor of San Francisco from 2011 until his death in 2017. Born in Seattle to Chinese American parents, Lee was a member of the D ...

(born 1961) – ice hockey player * David Littman (born 1967) – ice hockey player * Davey Lopes (born 1945) – baseball player and coach * Peter Manfredo (born 1980) – boxer * Ken McDonald (born 1970) – basketball player, coach * John Mellekas (1933–2015) – football player * Tom Mellor (born 1950) – hockey player and U.S. Olympian (1972) * Ray Monaco (1918–2002) – football player * Chet Nichols Jr. (1931–1995) – baseball player * Bill Osmanski (1915–1996) –

College Football Hall of Fame The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and interactive Tourist attraction, attraction devoted to college football, college American football. The National Football Foundation (NFF) founded the Hall in 1951 to immortalize the players ...

inductee * Chuck Palumbo (born 1971) – wrestler * Don Panciera (1927–2012) – football player *

Michael Parkhurst Michael Finlay Parkhurst (born January 24, 1984) is an American former association football, soccer player who played as a Defender (association football), defender. The 2005 MLS Rookie of the Year Award, MLS Rookie of the Year and 2007 MLS Def ...

(born 1984) – soccer player, U.S. Olympian, and

Rhode Island FC Rhode Island FC is an American professional Association football, Football club headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Founded in 2019 and beginning play in 2024, the team plays in the Eastern Conference of the USL C ...

co-founder * Les Pawson (1905–1992) – two-time Boston Marathon winner * Kwity Paye (born 1998) – football player *

Vinny Paz Vinny Paz (born Vincenzo Edward Pazienza, December 16, 1962), formerly Vinny Pazienza, is an American former professional boxer who held world titles at lightweight and light middleweight. The 2016 film '' Bleed for This'' is based on his comeb ...

(born 1962) – boxer, five-time world champion * Gerry Philbin (born 1941) – football player * David Quinn (born 1966) – ice hockey player * Joe Reed (born 1948) – football player * Aileen Riggin (1906–2002) – swimmer * Bill Sandeman (born 1942) – football player * Mathieu Schneider (born 1969) – professional ice hockey player * Bobby Sewall (born 1988) – football player *

(1897–1967) – football player * Jamie Silva (born 1984) – football player * Jim Siwy (born 1958) – baseball player * A. J. Smith (born 1949) – football executive *

Hank Soar Albert Henry Soar (August 17, 1914 – December 24, 2001) was an American football running back and defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) who went on to have a long career as an umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB). Soar played n ...

(1914–2001) – football player * Joe Soares – rugby player * Sean Soriano – mixed martial artist * Andre Soukhamthath – mixed martial artist *

Mike Stefanik Michael Paul Stefanik (May 20, 1958 – September 15, 2019) was an American professional stock car racing driver. He competed mainly in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, but also made appearances in the Busch Grand National series and the Cra ...

(1958–2019) –

NASCAR The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock car racing. It is considered to be one of the top ranked motorsports organizations in ...

driver * Bill Summers (1895–1966) – Major League Baseball umpire * Cole Swider – basketball player * Chris Terreri (born 1964) – NHL goalie, two Stanley Cups and U.S. Olympian (1988) * Mark Van Eeghen (born 1952) – NFL Pro Bowl running back * Dan Wheeler (born 1977) – baseball player * Cody Wild (born 1987) – ice hockey player *

Mason Williams Mason Douglas Williams (born August 24, 1938) is an American classical guitarist, composer, singer, writer, comedian, and poet, best known for his 1968 instrumental " Classical Gas" and for his work as a comedy writer on ''The Smothers Brothers ...

(born 1991) – baseball player * Ron Wilson (born 1955) – ice hockey player, head coach * Jeff Xavier (born 1985) – basketball player

Business

* Zachariah Allen (1795–1882) – textile manufacturer, scientist, lawyer, writer, inventor and civil leader * Everett M. "Busy" Arnold (1899–1974) – comic book publisher * F. Nelson Blount (1918–1967) – industrialist and railroad enthusiast, founder of the Blount Seafood Corporation and Steamtown, USA * John Brown (1736–1803) – merchant and slave-trader, original owner of the John Brown House, co-founder of the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (

Brown University Brown University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. It is the List of colonial colleges, seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the US, founded in 1764 as the ' ...

) * Moses Brown (1738–1836) – co-founder of the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (Brown University) * Nicholas Brown Jr. (1769–1841) – businessman and philanthropist for whom Brown University is named * Robert Crandall (born 1935) – former president and chairman of

American Airlines American Airlines, Inc. is a major airlines of the United States, major airline in the United States headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, within the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, and is the Largest airlines in the world, largest airline in the ...

* Glenn Creamer – senior managing director of

Providence Equity Partners Providence Equity Partners L.L.C. is a specialist private equity investment firm focused on media, communications, education, and technology investments across North America and Europe. The firm specializes in growth-oriented private equity inves ...

* Marcel Desaulniers (born 1945) – chef and director emeritus of the

Culinary Institute of America The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) is a private culinary school with its main campus in Hyde Park, New York, and branch campuses in St. Helena and Napa, California; San Antonio, Texas; and Singapore. The college, which was the first to ...

* Wylie Dufresne (born 1970) – celebrity chef, owner of wd~50 restaurant in Manhattan *

Ann Smith Franklin Ann Smith Franklin (October 2, 1696 – April 16, 1763) was an Thirteen Colonies, American colonial newspaper printer and publisher. She inherited the business from her husband, James Franklin (printer), James Franklin, brother of Benjamin Frankl ...

(1696–1763) – publisher * Darius Goff (1809–1891) – Pawtucket textile mill owner * Catherine Littlefield Greene (1755–1814) – wife of

Nathanael Greene Major general (United States), Major General Nathanael Greene (August 7, 1742 – June 19, 1786) was an American military officer and planter who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, Revolutionary War. He emerge ...

* Daniel Harple (born 1959) – entrepreneur, investor, inventor *

Brad Jacobs Bradley Robert Jacobs (born June 11, 1985) is a Canadian curler from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. He currently skips his own team out of Calgary, Alberta. He is an Olympic champion skip, having led Canada to a gold medal at the 2014 Winter Oly ...

(born 1956) – chairman and chief executive officer of XPO Logistics * Laura Lang – former chief executive officer of

Time Inc. Time Inc. (also referred to as Time & Life, Inc. later on, after their two onetime flagship magazine publications) was an American worldwide mass media corporation founded on November 28, 1922, by Henry Luce and Briton Hadden and based in New ...

* Aaron Lopez (1731–1782) – slave merchant and philanthropist, wealthiest person in Newport * Edward J. McElroy (born 1941) – labor union executive *

James McNerney Walter James "Jim" McNerney Jr. (born August 22, 1949) is a business executive who was president and CEO of the Boeing Company from June 2005 to July 2015. McNerney was also chairman from June 2005 until March 1, 2016. McNerney oversaw developme ...

(born 1949) – business executive * David Nason (born 1970) – president and CEO of GE Energy Financial Services * Jonathan M. Nelson (born 1956) – businessman and investor, founder of

* Carolyn Rafaelian – designer, philanthropist, and business woman, founder of Alex and Ani *

Samuel Slater Samuel Slater (June 9, 1768 – April 21, 1835) was an early English-American industrialist known as the "Father of the American Industrial Revolution", a phrase coined by Andrew Jackson, and the "Father of the American Factory System". In the ...

(1768–1835) – industrialist, "father of the industrial revolution" * Henry J. Steere (1830–1889) – textile industrialist, philanthropist *

Judah Touro Judah Touro (June 16, 1775 – January 18, 1854) was an American businessman and philanthropist. Early life and career Touro's father Isaac Touro of Holland was chosen as the hazzan at the Touro Synagogue in 1762, a Portuguese Sephardic congr ...

(1775–1854) – businessman *

William Kissam Vanderbilt William Kissam Vanderbilt I (December 12, 1849 – July 22, 1920) was an American heir, businessman, philanthropist, and horse breeder. Born into the Vanderbilt family, he managed his family's railroad investments. Early life William Kissam Vand ...

(1849–1920) – member of the prominent American

Vanderbilt family The Vanderbilt family is an American family who gained prominence during the Gilded Age. Their success began with the shipping and railroad empires of Cornelius Vanderbilt, and the family expanded into various other areas of industry and philanth ...

, original owner of Marble House in Newport * William Vernon (1719–1806) – trader

Crime

Thomas Tew Thomas Tew (died September 1695), also known as the Rhode Island Pirate, was a 17th-century English privateer-turned- pirate. He embarked on two major pirate voyages and met a bloody death on the second, and he pioneered the route which became ...

(?–1695) – pirate

Film and television

;A–L * Norm Abram (born 1950) – carpenter and television performer *

Robert Aldrich Robert Burgess Aldrich (August 9, 1918 – December 5, 1983) was an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. An iconoclastic and maverick '' auteur'' working in many genres during the Golden Age of Hollywood, he directed main ...

(1918–1983) – film director * Gianna Amore (born 1968) – model and actress * Harry Anderson (1952–2018) – actor, ''

Night Court ''Night Court'' is an American television sitcom that premiered on NBC on January 4, 1984, and ended on May 31, 1992, after nine seasons consisting of List of Night Court episodes, 193 episodes. The show is set in the night shift of a Manhattan ...

'' *

David Angell David Lawrence Angell (April 10, 1946 – September 11, 2001) was an American screenwriter and television producer, known for his work in sitcoms. He won multiple Emmy Awards as a ''Cheers'' writer and as the creator and executive producer of t ...

(1946–2001) – television producer *

Nadia Bjorlin Nadia Alexandra Bjorlin (born August 2, 1980) is an American actress, singer, and model. Early life Bjorlin was born on August 2, 1980, in Newport, Rhode Island. She is the second eldest child of Swedish composer and conductor Ulf Björlin and ...

(born 1980) – actress *

Billy Bush William Hall Bush (born October 17, 1971) is an American radio and television host. He is a member of the Bush family, a nephew of former president George H. W. Bush and cousin of former president George W. Bush and former Florida governor Jeb B ...

(born 1971) – radio and TV host, ''

Access Hollywood ''Access Hollywood'', briefly known as ''Access'' from 2017 to 2019, is an American weekday television entertainment news program that premiered on September 9, 1996. It covers events and celebrities in the entertainment industry. It was create ...

'', ''

Today Today (archaically to-day) may refer to: * The current day and calendar date ** Today is between and , subject to the local time zone * Now, the time that is perceived directly, present * The current, present era Arts, entertainment and m ...

'' *

Ruth Buzzi Ruth Ann Buzzi ( ; July 24, 1936 – May 1, 2025) was an American actress and comedian. She appeared on stage, in films, and on television. She was best known for her performances on the comedy-variety show ''Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In'' from 196 ...

(1936–2025) – comedian, ''

Laugh-In ''Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In'' (often simply referred to as ''Laugh-In'') is an American sketch comedy television program that ran for six seasons from January 22, 1968, to July 23, 1973, on the NBC television network. The show, hosted by come ...

'' * Sean Callery (born 1964) – film and television composer * Robert Capron (born 1998) – actor *

Marilyn Chambers Marilyn Ann Taylor (née Briggs; April 22, 1952 – April 12, 2009), known professionally as Marilyn Chambers, was an American pornographic actress, exotic dancer, model, actress, singer and vice-presidential candidate. She was known f ...

(1952–2009) – pornographic film actress *

Zoë Chao Zoë Carroll Chao (born September 19, 1985) is an American television and stage actress and screenwriter, principally known for her roles as Isobel in ''Strangers'' and Zoë in '' The Afterparty''. Early life Chao was born in Providence, Rhode ...

(born 1985) - actress * Harry Cicma (born 1982) –

Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award categor ...

-winning sports anchor, professional tennis player * Amanda Clayton (born 1981) – actress, '' City on a Hill'' *

Nicholas Colasanto Nicholas Colasanto (January 19, 1924 – February 12, 1985) was an American actor and television director. He is best known for his role as Ernie Pantusso in the American television sitcom ''Cheers'' (1982 – 1985). Early life Colasanto was b ...

(1924–1985) – actor and director, ''

Cheers ''Cheers'' is an American television sitcom, created by Glen and Les Charles, Glen Charles & Les Charles and James Burrows, that aired on NBC for eleven seasons from September 30, 1982, to May 20, 1993. The show was produced by Charles/Burrows/C ...

'' *

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 ...

(born 1959) – film director and producer *

Olivia Culpo Olivia Frances Culpo (born May 8, 1992) is an American model, actress, and media personality. Culpo has won Miss Rhode Island USA, Miss USA 2012, and Miss Universe 2012. Early life and education Olivia Frances Culpo was born on May 8, 1992, ...

(born 1992) – Miss Rhode Island USA 2012, Miss USA 2012, Miss Universe 2012 *

Sam Daly Samuel Pierce Daly (born March 24, 1984) is an American actor. He is the son of actor Tim Daly and actress Amy Van Nostrand, and grandson of actor James Daly. His aunt is actress Tyne Daly. Daly attended Moses Brown School where he started to s ...

(born 1984) – actor *

Viola Davis Viola Davis ( ; born August 11, 1965) is an American actress and film producer. List of awards and nominations received by Viola Davis, Her accolades include both the Triple Crown of Acting and EGOT. ''Time (magazine), Time'' named her one of ...

(born 1965) –

Academy Award The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence ...

-winning actress *

Charlie Day Charles Peckham Day (born February 9, 1976) is an American actor, writer, and producer. He is best known for playing Charlie Kelly (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Charlie Kelly on the FX Networks, FX dark comedy ''It's Always Sunny in Phila ...

(born 1976) – actor, ''

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia ''It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia'', also known colloquially simply as ''Always Sunny'', is an American sitcom created by Rob McElhenney and co-developed by Glenn Howerton for FX (TV channel), FX. It premiered on August 4, 2005, and stars Charl ...

'' * Vin Di Bona (born 1944) – television producer *

Eddie Dowling Eddie Dowling (born Joseph Nelson Goucher; December 11, 1889Date and year of birth as per baptismal records of Precious Blood church, Woonsocket, Rhode Island, where Dowling was christened — February 18, 1976) was an American actor, director, ...

(1895–1976) – actor * Alice Drummond (1929–2016) – actress * Jack Duffy (1882–1939) – film actor *

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 nightclubs ...

(1901–1967) – actor and singer * Susan Eisenberg (born 1964) – voice actress *

Mark Famiglietti Mark Famiglietti (born ) is an American actor, screenwriter, film producer and author. He is best known for appearing in television shows such as ''Hang Time'' and ''Young Americans''. He also appeared in '' Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines'' ...

(born 1979) – actor *

Bobby Farrelly Robert Farrelly (born June 17, 1958) is an American film director, screenwriter and producer. He is one of the Farrelly brothers, alongside his brother Peter, who together are known for directing and producing successful box-office comedy films ...

(born 1958) – film director *

Peter Farrelly Peter John Farrelly (born December 17, 1956) is an American film director, screenwriter, producer and novelist. Along with his brother Bobby Farrelly, Bobby, the Farrelly brothers are mostly famous for directing and producing quirky comedy and r ...

(born 1956) – film director * Mat Franco (born 1988) – magician, ''

America's Got Talent ''America's Got Talent'' (often abbreviated as ''AGT'') is an American talent show competition, and is part of the global ''Got Talent'' franchise created by Simon Cowell. The program is produced by Fremantle (as well as distributed by) and ...

'' winner * Matt Fraser (born 1991) – psychic and television personality * Peter Frechette (born 1956) – actor *

Peter Gerety Peter Gerety is an American actor. He played officer, later detective, Stuart Gharty on '' Homicide: Life on the Street'' (1996–1999), and Judge Daniel Phelan in ''The Wire'' (2002–2008). Early years Gerety was born in Providence, Rhode I ...

(born 1940) – actor * Joanna Going (born 1963) – actress *

Spalding Gray Spalding Gray (June 5, 1941 – ) was an American actor, novelist, playwright, screenwriter and performance artist. He is best known for the autobiographical monologues that he wrote and performed for the theater in the 1980s and 1990s, as well ...

(1941–2004) – actor and writer * Richard Hart (1915–1951) – actor *

Elisabeth Hasselbeck Elisabeth DelPadre Hasselbeck (; born May 28, 1977) is an American television personality and talk show host. She rose to prominence in 2001 as a contestant on the second season of the American version of ''Survivor'', where she finished in fo ...

(born 1977) – television personality * Sam Hyde – comedian * Richard Hatch (born 1961) – reality television contestant * Jason Hawes (born 1971) – television actor * David Hedison (1927–2019) – actor *

Brian Helgeland Brian Thomas Helgeland (born January 17, 1961) is an American screenwriter, film producer, and director. He is best known for writing the screenplays for the films '' L.A. Confidential'' (1998) and '' Mystic River'' (2003). He wrote and directed ...

(born 1961) – screenwriter, film producer and director *

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, Rho ...

(1911–2005) – Academy Award-nominated actress * Thomas Harper Ince (1882–1924) – film producer, director, actor *

Richard Jenkins Richard Dale Jenkins (born May 4, 1947) is an American actor. He is well known for his portrayal of deceased patriarch Nathaniel Fisher on the HBO funeral drama series ''Six Feet Under (TV series), Six Feet Under'' (2001–2005). He began his c ...

(born 1947) – Academy Award-nominated actor * Joyce Jillson (1946–2004) – actress, author, and astrologer *

Van Johnson Charles Van Dell Johnson (August 25, 1916 – December 12, 2008) was an American actor and dancer. He had a prolific career in film, television, theatre and radio, which spanned over 50 years, from 1940 to 1992. He was a major star at Metr ...

(1916–2008) – actor, ''

The Caine Mutiny ''The Caine Mutiny'' is a 1951 Pulitzer Prize–winning novel by Herman Wouk. The novel grew out of Wouk's personal experiences aboard two destroyer-minesweepers in the Pacific Theater in World War II. Among its themes, it deals with the mo ...

'', ''

Brigadoon ''Brigadoon'' is a musical with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and score by Frederick Loewe. The plot features two American tourists who stumble upon Brigadoon, a mysterious Scottish village that appears for only one day every 100 years; on ...

'' *

Claudia Jordan Claudia Angela Jordan (born April 12, 1973) 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 American version of '' Deal or No Deal'' and '' ...

(born 1973) – Miss Rhode Island Teen USA 1997 *

Ted Knight Ted Knight (born Tadeusz Wladyslaw Konopka; December 7, 1923August 26, 1986) was an American actor known for playing the comedic roles of Ted Baxter in ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'', Henry Rush in '' Too Close for Comfort'' and Judge Elihu Sm ...

(1923–1986) – actor, ''

The Mary Tyler Moore Show ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (also known simply as ''Mary Tyler Moore'') is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns and starring actress Mary Tyler Moore. The show originally aired on CBS from September 19, 1970 ...

'', ''

Caddyshack ''Caddyshack'' is a 1980 American sports comedy film directed by Harold Ramis, written by Brian Doyle-Murray, Ramis and Douglas Kenney, and starring Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight (his final film role), Michael O'Keefe and Bill ...

'' * Geoffrey Lewis (1935–2015) – actor * Eric Lutes (born 1962) – actor ;M–Z *

Seth MacFarlane Seth Woodbury MacFarlane (; born October 26, 1973) is an American actor, animator, writer, producer, director, comedian, and singer. He is best known as the creator and star of the television series ''Family Guy'' (since 1999) and ''The Orvill ...

(born 1973) – voice actor, creator of ''

Family Guy ''Family Guy'' is an American animated sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series premiered on January 31, 1999, following Super Bowl XXXIII, with the rest of the first season airing from April 11, 1999. Th ...

'', ''

American Dad! ''American Dad!'' is an American animated sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane, Mike Barker (producer), Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series premiered on February 6, 2005, following Super Bowl XXXIX, with the r ...

'', ''

The Cleveland Show ''The Cleveland Show'' is an American animated sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane, Richard Appel, and Mike Henry (voice actor), Mike Henry for the Fox Broadcasting Company. A Spin-off (media), spin-off of ''Family Guy'', and the second television ...

'', and '' Ted'' *

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 claimed t ...

(1899–1973) – actor * Mike Maronna (born 1977) – actor *

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

(born 1975) – actor *

Louis B. Mayer Louis Burt Mayer (; born Lazar Meir; July 12, 1884Mayer maintained that he was born in Minsk on July 4, 1885. According to Scott Eyman, the reasons may have been: * Mayer's father gave different dates for his birthplace at different times, so ...

(1884–1957) – film producer and MGM studio mogul * Matt McCarthy (born 1979) – comedian, actor * Ron McLarty (1947–2020) – actor, playwright, novelist * Michaela McManus (born 1983) – actress, '' Law & Order: SVU'', '' One Tree Hill'' *

Caroline McWilliams Caroline Margaret McWilliams (April 4, 1945 – February 11, 2010) was an American actress, best known for her portrayal of Marcy Hill in the television series '' Benson''. McWilliams had also appeared in nine episodes of its parent-series ''S ...

(1945–2010) – actress *

Debra Messing Debra Lynn Messing (born August 15, 1968) is an American actress. After graduating from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Messing starred in the television series ''Ned and Stacey'' on Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox (1995–1997) an ...

(born 1968) – actress, ''

Will and Grace Will may refer to: Common meanings * Will and testament, instructions for the disposition of one's property after death * Will (philosophy), or willpower * Will (sociology) * Will, volition (psychology) * Will, a modal verb - see Shall and wi ...

'' *

Shanna Moakler Shanna Lynn Moakler ( ; born March 28, 1975) is an American actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder. 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 ...

(born 1975) – Miss Rhode Island Teen USA 1992, Miss New York USA 1995, Miss USA 1995 * Mark Morettini (born 1962) – actor, ''

Prison Break ''Prison Break'' is an American Crime film#Crime drama, crime Drama (film and television), drama television series created by Paul Scheuring for Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox. The series revolves around two brothers: Lincoln Burrows (Dominic P ...

'' *

Christopher Murney Christopher Murney is an American actor and voice artist. Early life and education Murney earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Rhode Island and a Master of Fine Arts in theatre from Pennsylvania State University. Career Murney ...

(born 1943) – actor * Arden Myrin (born 1973) – actress * Brendan O'Malley (born 1969) – actor and writer * Vincent Pagano (born 1967) – actor *

Pauly D Paul Michael DelVecchio Jr. (born July 5, 1980), known as Pauly D and DJ Pauly D, is an American television personality and disc jockey, DJ. He is best known for being a cast member of MTV's reality show ''Jersey Shore (TV series), Jersey Shore' ...

(born 1980) – television personality, DJ, cast member of ''

Jersey Shore The Jersey Shore, commonly called the Shore by locals, is the coast, coastal region of the U.S. state of New Jersey. The term encompasses about of shore, oceanfront bordering the Atlantic Ocean, from Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Perth Amboy in the n ...

'' * David Petrarca (born 1962) – film, television and theatre director *

Ben Powers Alton Adelbert Powers (July 5, 1950 – April 6, 2015), known professionally as Ben Powers, was an American actor and comedian. Powers was best known for his role as Keith Albert Anderson, the husband of Thelma Evans, during the sixth and fina ...

(1950–2015) – actor, ''

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In ''Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In'' (often simply referred to as ''Laugh-In'') is an American sketch comedy television program that ran for six seasons from January 22, 1968, to July 23, 1973, on the NBC television network. The show, hosted by comed ...

'' *

Ford Rainey Ford Rainey (August 8, 1908 – July 25, 2005) was an American film, stage, and television actor.Myrna Oliver ''Los Angeles Times'', July 26, 2005. Early life Rainey was born in Mountain Home, Idaho, the son of Vyrna (née Kinkade), a teacher, ...

(1908–2005) – actor *

Don Reo Don Reo is an American television writer and producer. He created or co-created numerous shows such as ''Blossom (American TV series), Blossom'' and ''The John Larroquette Show'' for NBC, ''My Wife and Kids'' and Rodney (TV series), Rodney for ...

– television producer *

Kali Rocha Kali Rocha (born December 5, 1971) is an American actress. She is known for portraying Karen Rooney, the mother of the four Rooney children and the school's vice principal, on the Disney Channel sitcom '' Liv and Maddie''. She also co-wrote four e ...

(born 1971) – actress *

Charles Rocket Charles Adams Claverie (August 28, 1949 – October 7, 2005), known by stage names Charlie Hamburger, Charlie Kennedy, and Charles Rocket, was an American actor. He was a cast member on ''Saturday Night Live,'' played the villain Nicholas Andre ...

(1945–2005) – actor *

Josh Schwartz Joshua Ian Schwartz (born August 6, 1976) is an American screenwriter and television producer. He 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 for dev ...

(born 1976) – television producer * Dave Shalansky (born 1973) – actor *

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, ...

(born 1977) – screenwriter and director *

Christopher Stanley Christopher Stanley is an American film and television actor. He appeared in the Ben Affleck-directed film ''Argo'' and in the Kathryn Bigelow-directed film ''Zero Dark Thirty''. His most notable TV role was as politician Henry Francis, th ...

(born 1965) – actor, Henry Francis on ''

Mad Men ''Mad Men'' is an American historical drama, period drama television series created by Matthew Weiner and produced by Lionsgate Television. It ran on cable network AMC (TV channel), AMC from July 19, 2007, to May 17, 2015, with seven seasons ...

'' *

Mena Suvari Mena Alexandra Suvari (; born February 13, 1979) is an American actress, producer, fashion designer and model. The accolades she has received include a Screen Actors Guild Awards, Screen Actors Guild Award, along with nominations for a Primetime ...

(born 1979) – actress, '' American Beauty'' * Saucy Sylvia (1921–2017) – comedian, singer, radio personality * Erika Van Pelt – ''

American Idol ''American Idol'' is an American Music competition, singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle (company), Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It a ...

'' finalist *

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

(born 1953) – television personality *

David S. Ward David Schad Ward (born October 25, 1945) is an American screenwriter and film director. He was nominated for two Academy Awards for his screenplays for the films ''The Sting'' (1973) and '' Sleepless in Seattle'' (1993), winning for the former. ...

(born 1945) – film director, Academy Award-winning screenwriter (''

The Sting ''The Sting'' is a 1973 American caper film. Set in 1936, it involves a complicated plot by two professional grifters (Paul Newman and Robert Redford) to con a mob boss ( Robert Shaw). The film was directed by George Roy Hill, who had dir ...

'') * Desiree Washington (born 1973) – model *

James Woods James Howard Woods (born April 18, 1947) is an American actor. Known for fast-talking, intense roles on screen and stage, he has received numerous accolades, including three Emmy Awards, and a Golden Globe Award, as well as nominations for t ...

(born 1947) – Academy Award-nominated actor

Journalism

Allen Bestwick Allen Bestwick (born September 24, 1961) is an American sportscaster. Known for his work covering NASCAR for NBC and ESPN, he is one of the lead track announcers at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway along with Dave Calabro and was the lead broadca ...

(born 1961) – sportscaster * Angelo Cataldi – sportscaster * David Hartman (born 1935) – actor, television personality * Irving R. Levine (1922–2009) – journalist * Walter Mossberg (born 1947) – columnist * Al Rockoff – photographer * George Schuyler (1895–1977) – author, journalist *

A. O. Scott Anthony Oliver Scott (born July 10, 1966) is an American journalist and cultural critic, known for his film and literary criticism. After starting his career at ''The New York Review of Books'', '' Variety'', and ''Slate'', he began writing film ...

(born 1966) – film critic * Jeff Stein (born 1944) – columnist, blogger * Doug White (1944–2006) – television newscaster *

Jack White John Anthony White (; born July 9, 1975) is an American musician who achieved international fame as the guitarist and lead singer of the rock duo the White Stripes. As the White Stripes disbanded, he sought success with his solo career, subse ...

(1942–2005) – journalist

Military

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

(1784–1813) – Navy officer * John Nicholas Brown II (1900–1979) – United States Assistant Secretary of the Navy (AIR) *

Ambrose Burnside Ambrose Everts Burnside (May 23, 1824 – September 13, 1881) was an American army officer and politician who became a senior Union general in the American Civil War and a three-time Governor of Rhode Island, as well as being a successfu ...

(1824–1881) – Army officer * Stephen Champlin (1789–1870) – Navy officer * Godfrey Chevalier (1889–1922) – Navy officer *

(1742–1786) – Continental Army officer, considered George Washington's most gifted officer *

Esek Hopkins Commodore (rank), Commodore Esek Hopkins (April 26, 1718February 26, 1802) was a Continental Navy officer and privateer. He served as the only commander-in-chief of the Continental navy during the American Revolutionary War, when the Continental ...

(1718–1802) – Commander in Chief of the Continental Navy during the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...

* Leon J. LaPorte (born 1946) – Army officer, former U.S. Forces Korea commander * George Luz (1921–1998) –- member of famed Easy Company 506th, 101st. *

Matthew C. Perry Matthew Calbraith Perry (April 10, 1794 – March 4, 1858) was a United States Navy officer who commanded ships in several wars, including the War of 1812 and the Mexican–American War. He led the Perry Expedition that Bakumatsu, ended Japan' ...

(1794–1858) – Navy officer *

Oliver Hazard Perry Oliver Hazard Perry (August 23, 1785 – August 23, 1819) was a United States Navy officer from South Kingstown, Rhode Island. A prominent member of the Perry family naval dynasty, he was the son of Sarah Wallace Alexander and Captain Christo ...

(1785–1819) – Navy officer * Elisha Hunt Rhodes (1842–1917) – Army * Isaac P. Rodman (1822–1862) – Army officer *

James Mitchell Varnum James Mitchell Varnum (December 17, 1748 – January 9, 1789) was an American legislator, lawyer, generalHeitman, ''Officers of the Continental Army'', 559. in the Continental Army, and a pioneer to the Ohio Country.Wilkins, ''Memoirs of the Rho ...

(1748–1789) – general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War * Samuel Ward Jr. (1756–1832) – American Revolutionary War soldier and delegate to the secessionist

Hartford Convention The Hartford Convention was a series of meetings from December 15, 1814, to January 5, 1815, in Hartford, Connecticut, United States, in which New England leaders of the Federalist Party met to discuss their grievances concerning the ongoing War ...

Frank Wheaton Frank Wheaton (May 8, 1833 – June 18, 1903) was a career military officer in the United States Army during the American Civil War and Indian Wars. He also was military commander over south Texas during the Garza Revolution. Early life and c ...

(1833–1903) – Army officer *

Abraham Whipple Commander Abraham Whipple (September 26, 1733 – May 27, 1819) was an American naval officer best known for his service in the Continental Navy during the Revolutionary War and being one of the founders of Marietta, Ohio. Born near Providenc ...

(1733–1819) – Continental Navy commander-in-chief * David B. Champagne (1932-1952) –

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...

recipient

Music

* Greg Abate (born 1947) – jazz musician *

Stevie Aiello Stephen Aiello (born April 30, 1983) is an American songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is best known for touring and recording with American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars. He was one of the founding members of Monty Are I, a band ...

(born 1983) – founding member of Monty Are I, and touring musician with

Thirty Seconds to Mars Thirty Seconds to Mars (commonly stylized as 30 Seconds to Mars) is an American Rock music, rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1998. The band consists of brothers Jared Leto (lead vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards) and Shannon Let ...

AraabMuzik Abraham Orellana (born June 16, 1989), better known as his stage name AraabMuzik ( ; stylized as araabMUZIK), is an American record producer and DJ. He made a name for himself by performing beats and instrumentals live and in real time on a Ak ...

(born 1989) – record producer and DJ * Dicky Barrett (born 1964) – popular musician, frontman of

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones The Mighty Mighty Bosstones (informally referred to as The Bosstones and often stylized as The Mighty Mighty BossToneS) were an American ska punk band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1983. From the band's inception, lead vocalist Dicky ...

, announcer for ''

Jimmy Kimmel Live! ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'', sometimes shortened to ''JKL'', is an American late-night talk show, created and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, and broadcast on ABC. The nightly hour-long show tapes and is based out of the Hollywood Masonic Temple in Hollywo ...

'' * David Blue (1941–1982) – singer-songwriter * John Cafferty – musician known for work with The Beaver Brown Band and for the '' Eddie and the Cruisers'' soundtrack *

Blu Cantrell Tiffany Cobb (born March 16, 1976), known professionally as Blu Cantrell, is an American contemporary R&B, R&B singer. Cantrell rose to fame in 2001, with the release of her debut single, "Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)", which peaked at number two ...

(born 1976) – musician *

Wendy Carlos Wendy Carlos (born Walter Carlos; November 14, 1939) is an American musician and composer known for electronic music and film scores. Born and raised in Rhode Island, Carlos studied physics and music at Brown University before moving to New Y ...

(born 1939) – composer and electronic music pioneer *

(1878–1942) – entertainer, singer, dancer, subject of the film, ''

Yankee Doodle Dandy ''Yankee Doodle Dandy'' is a 1942 American biographical musical drama film about George M. Cohan, known as "The Man Who Owned Broadway". It stars James Cagney, Joan Leslie, Walter Huston, and Richard Whorf, and features Irene Manning, Geo ...

'' *

Bill Conti William Conti (born April 13, 1942) is an American composer and conductor. He is best known for his film scores, including ''Rocky'' (1976), '' Rocky II'' (1979), '' Rocky III'' (1982), '' Rocky V'' (1990), '' Rocky Balboa'' (2006), '' The Karat ...

(born 1942) – film music composer, ''

Rocky ''Rocky'' is a 1976 American independent film, independent sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the first installment in the Rocky (film series), ''Rocky'' franchise and also star ...

'' * Bill Cowsill (1948–2006) – musician *

Tanya Donelly Tanya Donelly (born July 14, 1966) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist based in New England. She came to prominence as a co-founder of the band Throwing Muses with her step-sister Kristin Hersh. Donelly went on to co-form the altern ...

(born 1966) – musician * John Dwyer (born 1974) – multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter, visual artist, and record label owner *

Eileen Farrell Eileen Farrell (February 13, 1920 – March 23, 2002) was an American soprano who had a nearly 60-year-long career performing both classical and popular music in concerts, theatres, on radio and television, and on disc. NPR noted, "She possessed ...

(1920–2002) – opera singer *

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, Florid ...

(born 1976) – musician * Billy Gilman (born 1988) – musician * Al Gomes (born 1960) – record producer and songwriter * Lukasz Gottwald (born 1973) – songwriter *

Bobby Hackett Robert Leo Hackett (January 31, 1915 – June 7, 1976) was a versatile American jazz musician who played swing music, Dixieland jazz and mood music, now called easy listening, on trumpet, cornet, and guitar. He played Swing with the bands ...

(1915–1976) – jazz musician * Scott Hamilton (born 1954) – jazz tenor saxophonist *

Kristin Hersh Martha Kristin Hersh (born August 7, 1966) is an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter known for her solo work and with her rock bands Throwing Muses and 50 Foot Wave, 50FootWave. She has released eleven solo albums. Her guitar work and comp ...

(born 1966) – musician * Jon B. (born 1974) – musician * Jesse Leach (born 1978) – popular musician *

Mapei Mapei S.p.A. () is an Italian limited company founded in 1937 in Milan that manufactures chemical products for the building industry. History Innovation and research The company was founded and originally called ''Materiali Ausiliari per l ...

(born 1983) – recording artist * Alexis Marshall – vocalist for the experimental rock band Daughters *

Dave McKenna Dave McKenna (May 30, 1930 – October 18, 2008) was an American jazz pianist known primarily as a solo pianist and for his " three-handed" swing style. He was a significant figure in the evolution of jazz piano. Career He was born in Woonsock ...

(1930–2008) – jazz pianist *

Paul Motian Stephen Paul Motian (March 25, 1931 – November 22, 2011) was an American jazz drummer, percussionist, and composer of Armenian descent. He played an important role in freeing jazz drummers from strict time-keeping duties. Motian first came t ...

(1931–2011) – jazz drummer, composer, bandleader *

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 orchestra ...

(born 1981) – contemporary classical music composer *

David Narcizo David John Narcizo (born May 6, 1966, in Newport, Rhode Island) is an American musician and graphic designer, primarily known for his work as the longtime drummer for Throwing Muses. Career Narcizo played drums on Tanya Donelly's '' Loveson ...

(born 1966) – musician * David Olney (1948–2020) – musician *

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. (band), L.T.D., with whom he began his musical career in 1970. B ...

(born 1948) – musician * Mike Renzi (born 1946) – pianist * Duke Robillard (born 1948) – blues musician * Kim Schifino – musician *

Carol Sloane Carol Sloane (March 5, 1937 – January 23, 2023) was an American jazz singer. Biography Born Carol Morvan in Providence, Rhode Island to parents Frank and Claudia (Rainville) Morvan, she began singing professionally when she was 14, although f ...

(born 1937) – jazz singer *

Mike Stud Michael Francis Seander (born October 30, 1988), known professionally as Mike (stylized as mike.; formerly Mike Stud), is an American rapper, singer and former baseball player. His first musical recognition came with the release of his viral sin ...

(born 1988) – rapper, former athlete * Erika Van Pelt (born 1985) – singer *

Leon Wilkeson Leon Russell Wilkeson (April 2, 1952 – July 27, 2001) was an American musician. He was the bassist of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1972 until his death in 2001. Early life Born on April 2, 1952, in Newport, Rhode Island, but rai ...

(1952–2001) – bassist for

Lynyrd Skynyrd Lynyrd Skynyrd (, ) is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1964. The group originally formed as My Backyard and comprised Ronnie Van Zant (vocals), Gary Rossington (guitar), Allen Collins (guitar), Larry Junstrom ...

* Don Wise (born 1942) – tenor saxophonist, music producer, songwriter * Arizona Zervas (born 1995) – rapper, composer, singer *

Jvke Jacob Dodge Lawson (born 3 March 2001), known professionally as Jvke (stylized in all caps and pronounced "Jake /dʒeɪk/"), is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and social media personality. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, he star ...

(born 2001) - singer, songwriter, producer

Politics and government

;A–L *

Lincoln Almond Lincoln Carter Almond (June 16, 1936 – January 2, 2023) was an American attorney and politician who served as the 72nd Governor of Rhode Island from 1995 to 2003. A member of the Republican Party, he was previously the United States Attorney ...

(born 1936) – former governor * Thomas Angell (1618–1694) – co-founder of the

Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations The Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations was an English colony on the eastern coast of America, founded in 1636 by Puritan minister Roger Williams after his exile from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. It became a haven for religious d ...

* Jonathan Earle Arnold (1814–1869) – member of the Wisconsin Territorial Council *

Peleg Arnold Peleg Arnold (1751–1820) was a lawyer, tavern-keeper, jurist, and statesman from Smithfield, Rhode Island (now North Smithfield). He represented Rhode Island as a delegate to the Continental Congress in the 1787–1788 session. He later serv ...

(1751–1820) – lawyer, tavern-keeper, jurist, and statesman * Joshua Babcock (1707–1783) – physician, American Revolution general, state Supreme Court justice, and postmaster *

Latimer Whipple Ballou Latimer Whipple Ballou (March 1, 1812 – May 9, 1900) was a U.S. Representative from Rhode Island. Biography Latimer Whipple Ballou was born in Cumberland, Rhode Island on March 1, 1812. He attended the public schools and the local academie ...

(1812–1900) – member of the House of Representatives * Sullivan Ballou (1829–1861) – state representative and Army officer *

Oliver Belmont Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont (November 12, 1858 – June 10, 1908) was an American banker, socialite, and politician who served one term as a United States Representative from New York (state), New York from 1901 to 1903. Belmont was a member o ...

(1858–1908) – charter member of the Rhode Island Society of Sons of the Revolution, Representative for New York * Charles R. Brayton (1840–1910) – politician and lobbyist whom

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

called the "Blind Boss of Rhode Island" * Samuel W. Bridgham (1776–1740) – first mayor of Providence * Frank Caprio (born 1936) – judge and television performer *

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), Republican Party, he served as the 66th Governor o ...

(1922–1999) – U.S. Senator *

Lincoln Chafee Lincoln Davenport Chafee ( ; born March 26, 1953) is an American politician. He was mayor of Warwick, Rhode Island, from 1993 to 1999, a United States Senator from 1999 to 2007, and the 74th Governor of Rhode Island from 2011 to 2015. He was a ...

(born 1953) – U.S. Senator, governor of Rhode Island, presidential candidate * Vincent "Buddy" Cianci Jr. (1941–2016) – former mayor of Providence *

David Cicilline David Nicola Cicilline ( ; born July 15, 1961) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the U.S. representative for from 2011 to 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the 36th mayor of Providence from 2003 to 2011, the fi ...

(born 1961) – Representative and Mayor of Providence *

William Coddington William Coddington (c. 1601 – 1 November 1678) was an early magistrate of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and later of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. He served as the judge of Portsmouth and Newport in that colony, govern ...

(1601–1678) – magistrate of the

, Judge of Portsmouth, Judge of Newport, Governor of Portsmouth and Newport, Deputy Governor of the entire colony, and governor of the colony * Thomas Corcoran (1900–1981) – member of President

Franklin Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), also known as FDR, was the 32nd president of the United States, serving from 1933 until his death in 1945. He is the longest-serving U.S. president, and the only one to have served ...

's " Brain Trust" during the

New Deal The New Deal was a series of wide-reaching economic, social, and political reforms enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the United States between 1933 and 1938, in response to the Great Depression in the United States, Great Depressi ...

and an advisor to President

Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon Baines Johnson (; August 27, 1908January 22, 1973), also known as LBJ, was the 36th president of the United States, serving from 1963 to 1969. He became president after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, under whom he had served a ...

* Percy Daniels (1840–1916) – People's Party (United States), Populist politician * Edward D. DiPrete (born 1934) – former governor of Rhode Island * Thomas E. Donilon, Thomas Donilon – National Security Adviser under President Barack Obama * Thomas A. Doyle (mayor), Thomas A. Doyle (1827–1886) – Mayor of Providence for eighteen years * Job Durfee (1790–1847) – Congressman * Elisha Dyer Jr. (1839–1906) – 45th Governor of Rhode Island, mayor of Providence * William Ellery (1727–1820) – a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of Rhode Island * Arthur Fenner (1745–1805) – fourth governor of Rhode Island * Michael Flynn (born 1958) – retired Army lieutenant general and National Security Advisor * Theodore Foster (1752–1828) – one of the first two United States senators from Rhode Island * Samuel Gorton (1593–1677) – settled Warwick, Rhode Island, Warwick * Daniel L. D. Granger (1852–1909) – Representative and mayor of Providence * Theodore F. Green (1867–1866) – United States Senator, 57th Governor of Rhode Island, and namesake of T. F. Green Airport * Christopher R. Hill (born 1952) – diplomat, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs * Stephen Hopkins (politician), Stephen Hopkins (1707–1785) – Governor of Rhode Island, RI Supreme Court justice, Signatory of the Declaration of Independence * Joseph B. Keenan – Chief Prosecutor in the International Military Tribunal for the Far East * Ambrose Kennedy (1875–1967) – Congressman * Kat Kerwin (1997) – former politician who served as the youngest member of the Providence City Council from 2019 until 2023 * Pat LaMarche (born 1960) – Green Party presidential candidate * William C. Lovering (1835–1910) – Congressman ;M–Z * Tiara Mack (1993) – State Senator * James McAndrews (1862–1942) – Congressman * William McCormick (diplomat), William McCormick (born 1939) – diplomat, United States Ambassador to New Zealand * J. Howard McGrath (1903–1966) – Governor of Rhode Island, Solicitor General, Senator, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and Attorney General of the United States * Edwin D. McGuinness (1856–1901) – first Irish-Catholic mayor of Providence * Florence K. Murray (1916–2004) – officer in Women's Army Corps, first female state senator in Rhode Island, first female judge in Rhode Island, and first female member of the Rhode Island Supreme Court * Dee Dee Myers (born 1961) – White House Press Secretary * Annette Nazareth (born 1956) – commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission * Joseph R. Paolino Jr. – U.S. Ambassador to Malta, former mayor of Providence * John O. Pastore (1907–2000) – Governor of Rhode Island, Senator * Claiborne Pell (1918–2009) – Senator, diplomat, sponsor of Pell grants * Aram J. Pothier (1854–1928) – Governor of Rhode Island, banker * Jack Reed (Rhode Island politician), Jack Reed (born 1949) – Senator * Dennis J. Roberts (1903–1994) – 63rd Governor of Rhode Island * Christopher Robinson (Rhode Island politician), Christopher Robinson (1806–1889) – congressman * James Y. Smith (1809–1876) – mayor of Providence and 29th Governor of Rhode Island * Sean Spicer (born 1971) – White House Press Secretary for President Donald Trump * William Sprague (Rhode Island, 1799–1856), William Sprague (1799–1856) – 14th Governor, a U.S. Representative, and a Senator * William H. Sullivan (1922–2013) – U.S. Ambassador * Bruce Sundlun (1920–2011) – former governor * Charles Tillinghast James (1805–1862) – U.S. Senator * Pat Toomey (born 1961) – Senator for Pennsylvania * Samuel Ward (Rhode Island politician), Samuel Ward (1725–1776) – RI Supreme Court justice, Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and a delegate to the Continental Congress * William West (Rhode Island politician), William West (1733–1816) – American Revolution general, Lieutenant Governor, RI Supreme Court justice, Anti-Federalist leader * Sheldon Whitehouse (born 1955) – state Attorney General, Senator * Charles C. Van Zandt (1830–1894) – former governor

Religion

* Alfred W. Anthony (1860–1939) – author, Free Will Baptist leader, and religion professor at Bates College * Emeline S. Burlingame (1836-1923) — president, Rhode Island Woman’s Christian Temperance Union; president, Free Baptist Woman‘s Missionary Society * William Ellery Channing (1780–1842) – Unitarian theologian * John Clarke (Baptist minister), John Clarke (1609–1676) – Baptist minister, co-founder of the

, author of its influential charter, and a leading advocate of religious freedom in America * Maurice Davis (1921–1993) – Rabbi and human-rights activist * Ernest Fortin (1923–2002) – Assumptionists, Assumptionist and professor of theology at Boston College * Mark Antony De Wolfe Howe (bishop), Mark Antony De Wolfe Howe (1808–1895) – Episcopal Church bishop * Anne Hutchinson (1591–1643) – early settler of Newport, catalyst of the Antinomian Controversy * James Manning (minister), James Manning (1738–1791) – American Baptist minister, co-founder and first president of the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (

) * Edwards Amasa Park (1808–1900) – theologian * Ezra Stiles (1727–1795) – Congregationalist minister and co-founder of the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations * Roger Williams (1603–1684) – founder of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, influential author, considered the first proponent of separation of church and state

Science

* Aaron T. Beck (1921-2021) – psychiatrist * George Brayton (1830–1892) – mechanical engineer * Joseph Brown (astronomer), Joseph Brown (1733–1785) – astronomer * Rita Charon (born 1949) – physician * Solomon Drowne (1753–1834) – physician, academic, and surgeon during the American Revolution * Sylvester Gardiner (1707–1786) – physician * Stuart Gitlow (born 1962) – psychiatrist * Frederic Poole Gorham (1871–1933) – bacteriologist * Nathanael Herreshoff (1848–1938) – naval engineer * Domina Jalbert (1904–1991) – inventor * Melanie Sanford (born 1975) – chemist * Sherwood C. Spring (born 1944) – astronaut * Robert Henry Thurston (1839–1903) – first president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME * Frank E. Winsor (1870–1939) – civil engineer

References

{{Lists of people by U.S. state Lists of people from Rhode Island,

Academia

Activism, civil rights, and philanthropy

Art, literature, and design

Athletics

Business

Crime

Film and television

Journalism

Military

Music

Politics and government

Religion

Science

See also

References