There are loads of celebrities from Connecticut. Look at a list of famous people from the Nutmeg State and you'll see names like Katharine Hepburn and George W. Bush. But many of these well-known names come from our larger towns, like Hartford and New Haven. Throughout history, we've had a number of famous people from Connecticut who hail from its small towns, too! Here are a few names you may have heard of.
1. Seth MacFarlane: Kent
Seth MacFarlane was born in Kent, Connecticut, a town of just under 3,000 best known as the home of the magnificent Kent Falls State Park. MacFarlane is an actor and animator who produces and stars in the immensely popular adult cartoon series Family Guy.
2. P.T. Barnum: Bushnell
P.T. Barnum was born in Bethel, Connecticut in 1810. He had an illustrious life with many accomplishments. He is best remembered for founding the Barnum and Bailey Circus, but he also authored books, ran a museum, and served two terms in the Connecticut House of Representatives.
3. Ethan Allen: Litchfield
Ethan Allan was born in rural Litchfield before Connecticut even became a state. He was a Revolutionary War hero who was one of the founders of Vermont.
4. Nathan Hale: Coventry
Another Revolutionary Patriot from Connecticut before it was a state is Nathan Hale. He's actually the state's official state hero. He served as a spy for the Continental Army and was executed by the British in September 1776.
5. John Trumbull: Lebanon
John Trumbull was nicknamed the "Painter of the Revolution" thanks to how many paintings he created of the Revolutionary War. Four of his paintings hang in the United States Capitol, and one is even on the reverse side of the two-dollar bill. He was born in Lebanon in the Connecticut Colony in 1756.
6. Ralph Nader: Winsted
Ralph Nader was born to Lebanese immigrant parents in 1934 in Winsted, Connecticut. He is a political activist who ran for president on multiple occasions, and has also authored several books.
7. Henry Ward Beecher: Litchfield
Henry Ward Beecher was born in Litchfield in 1813. He was one of the most famous evangelists of the era and toured the world preaching social reform. He was an avid supporter of the abolitionist movement, temperance, and women's suffrage.
8. Harriet Beecher Stowe: Litchfield
Henry Ward Beecher's older sister, Harriet Beecher Stowe, was also born in Litchfield. She penned the famous novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, an important abolitionist work.
9. Jonathan Edwards: East Windsor
Jonathan Edwards is a name familiar to all scholars of early American history. This preacher was born in 1703 in East Windsor in what was then British America. He wrote many books and was an important figure in the First Great Awakening, a religious revival that spread throughout the colonies.
10. Ted Knight: Terryville
Ted Knight (pictured left) was born in Terryville, a village within Plymouth, Connecticut. He played Ted Baxter in The Mary Tyler Moore Show and also appeared in the film Caddyshack.
Were you familiar with any of these famous people from Connecticut? Have you ever visited any of their hometowns? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!
