Visual art · 1843–1942William Henry Jacksonphotographer, painter, explorerPioneer photographer of the American West who joined the Detroit Photographic Company in 1897, helping make Detroit a world center of color postcards.DETROIT / A living lexicon / ¼
Famous Detroiters
Detroit's famous people in one place: when they were born, what they did, how they are tied to the city, and the Detroit places that were theirs.
- 1,743 famous people
- 96 Detroit places
- 22 fields
Field
Connection
Born in
A–Z (family name)
404 people · 3/9 page
Clear filtersVisual art · 1843–1942William Henry Jacksonphotographer, painter, explorerPioneer photographer of the American West who joined the Detroit Photographic Company in 1897, helping make Detroit a world center of color postcards.
Music · 1949–2015Steve Mackaytenor saxophonistAnn Arbor saxophonist whose wild tenor lines on the Stooges' Fun House (1970) are some of the most famous horn parts in punk's prehistory.
Sports · 1872–1940Kid McCoyboxer, actorFlamboyant 1890s boxing champion, often linked to the phrase "the real McCoy", who spent his last years working for Ford and died in Detroit in 1940.
Sports · 1908–1963Horton Smithprofessional golferWinner of the first Masters Tournament in 1934 and again in 1936, who was head professional at the Detroit Golf Club from 1946 until his death.
Music · 1939–1973Paul Williamssinger, choreographerFounding member and original lead singer of the Temptations, who also devised the group's early dance routines; he died in Detroit in 1973.
Sports · 1927–2016Bill Gadsbyice hockey defenseman and coachHall of Fame defenseman who finished his career with the Red Wings, briefly coached them and spent the rest of his life in metro Detroit.
Sports · 1886–1983Jam HandyOlympic swimmer and water polo player, industrial filmmakerTwo-time Olympic bronze medalist who built the Jam Handy Organization in Detroit into one of America's largest producers of industrial and training films.
Film & TV · 1896–1975Cullen Landissilent-film actor, director of industrial filmsSilent-film leading man who starred in the first all-talking feature (1928), then moved to Detroit in 1930 to direct industrial films, joining the Jam Handy studio in 1937.
Business & brands · 1901–1996Alex Manoogianindustrial engineer, businessman, philanthropistArmenian-born engineer who came to Detroit in 1924, founded Masco, introduced the Delta washerless faucet, and donated the Manoogian Mansion, the official home of Detroit's mayors.
Literature · born 1965Dunya Mikhailpoet, journalist, teacherIraqi-American poet of The War Works Hard who fled Saddam Hussein's regime, settled in metro Detroit, studied at Wayne State and teaches Arabic at Oakland University.
Science & invention · 1919–2011Mildred Rebstockpharmaceutical chemistParke-Davis research chemist in Detroit who led the first complete synthesis of an antibiotic, chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin), in 1947.
Music · 1898–1986Sippie Wallaceblues singer, pianist, songwriter, church organist1920s classic-blues star who moved to Detroit in 1929, served a Detroit church as organist for some 40 years, and returned to the stage in the 1960s.
Science & invention · born 1950Alexa Canadypediatric neurosurgeonThe first African American woman board-certified in neurosurgery in the United States, chief of neurosurgery at Children's Hospital of Michigan in Detroit from 1987 to 2001.
Politics · 1870–1929Edwin Denbylawyer, congressman, secretary of the NavyDetroit lawyer, congressman and Marine volunteer who became Harding's secretary of the Navy and resigned over the Teapot Dome scandal; Denby High School on the east side bears his name.
Politics · 1805–1871Jacob M. Howardlawyer, U.S. senatorDetroit lawyer and Republican Party co-founder who as U.S. senator helped shape the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments, including the citizenship clause.
Religion · born 1970Francis KalabatChaldean Catholic bishopKuwait-born Chaldean priest trained in Detroit who has led the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle of Detroit since 2014, the church of Metro Detroit's large Iraqi Christian community.
Politics · 1807–1880Robert McClellandlawyer, governor of Michigan, U.S. secretary of the interiorMonroe lawyer and Democratic governor (1852–1853) who served as President Pierce's interior secretary and spent his last 23 years practicing law in Detroit; he is buried at Elmwood.
Politics · 1814–1892Henry P. Baldwinshoe merchant, banker, governor of Michigan, U.S. senatorDetroit boot and shoe wholesaler and banker who built St. John's Episcopal Church on Woodward, served as governor (1869–1873) and gave Hazen Pingree his first Detroit job.
Business & brands · 1872–1936James CouzensFord Motor Company co-founder and business manager, mayor of Detroit, U.S. senatorCanadian-born railroad clerk who became Ford's hard-driving business manager, then mayor of Detroit and a U.S. senator.
Sports · 1903–1993Charlie Gehringerbaseball player, second basemanMichigan-born Hall of Fame second baseman who played his whole 19-year career with the Tigers; his No. 2 is retired and his statue stands at Comerica Park.
Sports · 1894–1951Harry Heilmannbaseball player, radio announcerFour-time batting champion for the Tigers who hit .403 in 1923, then became the team's beloved radio voice from 1934 to 1950.
Music · born 1948Steve HunterguitaristGuitarist who drove eight hours to audition for Mitch Ryder's band Detroit, a move that launched his career with Lou Reed, Alice Cooper and producer Bob Ezrin.
Sports · 1928–2002Dick "Night Train" LaneAmerican football cornerback, youth-sports directorHall of Fame cornerback, one of the fiercest tacklers in NFL history, who played for the Lions and then ran Detroit's Police Athletic League for 17 years.
Science & invention · 1844–1929Elijah McCoyengineer and inventor of automatic lubricatorsCanadian-born Black engineer whose automatic lubricators kept North America's locomotives running; he spent his last decades inventing in Detroit.
Sports · 1893–1962Tommy Miltonracing driver, automotive engineerFirst driver to win the Indianapolis 500 twice (1921 and 1923), despite having sight in only one eye; he spent his later years in the Detroit area auto industry.
Sports · 1860–1922Sam Thompsonbaseball player, right fielderHall of Fame slugger of the 1887 champion Detroit Wolverines who later settled in Detroit, played briefly for the Tigers at 46 and is buried at Elmwood Cemetery.
Politics · born 1977Jocelyn Bensonlawyer, law school dean, Michigan secretary of stateElection-law scholar who came to Detroit to clerk for Judge Damon Keith, became the youngest woman to lead an accredited law school at Wayne State, and has been Michigan's secretary of state since 2019.
Auto industry · 1880–1936Roy D. Chapinco-founder and president of Hudson Motor Car Company, U.S. Secretary of CommerceOlds test driver who co-founded the Hudson Motor Car Company in Detroit, named it for merchant J. L. Hudson, and later served as U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
Music · 1931–1991James Clevelandgospel singer, composer, arranger, choir directorChicago gospel giant who worked at Detroit's New Bethel Baptist Church under Rev. C. L. Franklin and founded the Gospel Music Workshop of America after a Detroit Sing-A-Rama.
Law · 1846–1917Donald M. Dickinsonlawyer, U.S. postmaster generalLeading Detroit trial lawyer and Democratic organizer who served as Grover Cleveland's postmaster general (1888–1889); Dickinson County in the Upper Peninsula is named for him.
Law · 1889–1982Homer S. Fergusonjudge, U.S. senator, diplomatDetroit lawyer and Wayne County circuit judge whose one-man grand jury exposed city corruption (1939–1941), launching him into the U.S. Senate (1943–1955).
Auto industry · 1881–1955József Galambmechanical engineer, chief designer of the Ford Model THungarian engineer from Makó who became Ford's chief designer and drew up much of the Model T at the Piquette Avenue Plant.
Music · 1893–1962Jean Goldkettebandleader, pianist, booking agent, ballroom operatorDetroit-based bandleader and impresario whose 1920s Victor orchestra, with Bix Beiderbecke, played his Graystone Ballroom and who launched McKinney's Cotton Pickers.
Sports · 1907–1985Ebbie Goodfellowice hockey forward and defensemanRed Wings captain who won three Stanley Cups, became the first Red Wing to win the Hart Trophy and founded the Red Wings Alumni Association.
Music · 1917–1988J. C. Heardjazz drummer, bandleaderDetroit-raised swing and bop drummer who played with Teddy Wilson, Cab Calloway and Jazz at the Philharmonic, then returned to Detroit in 1966 as a bandleader and mentor.
Sports · born 1955Ken Hollandhockey executive, former goaltenderRed Wings general manager from 1997 to 2019, architect of the Cup teams of 1998, 2002 and 2008 and one of the most successful executives in NHL history.
Politics · 1811–1843Stevens T. Masonterritorial secretary, first governor of MichiganThe 'Boy Governor' who ran Michigan Territory from Detroit at 19, led it to statehood in 1837 as its first governor and now lies under his statue in Capitol Park.
Business & brands · 1838–1902James McMillanindustrialist, U.S. senatorCanadian-born Detroit railcar and shipping magnate who led Michigan's Republican machine as a U.S. senator (1889–1902) and chaired the McMillan Commission that reshaped Washington's National Mall.
Politics · 1894–1966Patrick V. McNamarapipefitter, union leader, U.S. senatorDetroit pipefitter and union local president who upset Senator Homer Ferguson in 1954 and served in the U.S. Senate until 1966; Detroit's federal building bears his name.The lexicon keeps growing. Every entry lists its sources at the bottom. Dates were checked against Wikidata and Wikipedia. The texts are our own.