| William Paca
(1740 - 1799) of Annapolis - Signer of the Declaration of Independence |
| Charles Carroll
of Carrollton (1737 - 1832) of Annapolis - Signer of the Declaration of Independence |
| Samuel Chase
(1743 - 1811) of Annapolis - Signer of the Declaration of Independence |
| Thomas Stone
(1743 - 1787) of Port Tobacco - Signer of the Declaration of Independence |
| Lt. Colonel George
Armistead (1780 - 1818) defended Fort McHenry during the
battle in 1814 when the Star-Spangled Banner was written. |
| Francis Scott Key
(1780 - 1843) - born in Frederick, wrote the Star-Spangled
Banner, our National Anthem, during the bombardment of
Baltimore in 1814. He also penned the phrase In God We Trust which is used on the United States currency. |
| Johns Hopkins
(1795 - 1873) born in Anne Arundel County was a philanthropist and financier. Before his death he bequeathed $7
million to found a free hospital, now Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Johns Hopkins University, both located in Baltimore. |
| Frederick Douglass
(1818 - 1895), a famous abolitionist (against slavery) and author, was born on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. At
age eight he was sent to Baltimore where he learned to read and write. He spoke out against slavery in the United
States and Europe. After the Civil War he fought for the rights of African-Americans and women. |
| Harriet Tubman
(1819 - 1913) was born into slavery in Dorchester County. When she was thirty she escaped to freedom to Philadelphia
where she learned about the Underground Railroad. After receiving her freedom she helped over 300 slaves escape
through the Underground Railroad. During the Civil War she worked as a spy, soldier and nurse. In 1995 the United
States Postal Service issued a stamp in her honor. |
| John Wilkes Booth
(1838 - 1865) was born near Bel Air. He began his acting career in Baltimore. Mr. Booth assassinated President
Lincoln at Ford's Theater in Washington in 1865. |
| Spiro Agnew
(1918 - 1996), the 39th Vice-President of the United States and fifth Republican governor of Maryland, was born
in Towson. He was the first person of Greek descent to serve as Vice President and Governor of a state. |
| Edgar Allen Poe
(1809 - 1849) lived in Baltimore. He was a well-known author of poems and short fiction. Among his notable works
are The Raven and The Fall of the House of Usher. |
| Jim Henson
(1936 - 1990) grew up outside Washington and attended the University of Maryland. He is best known for the children's
show Sesame Street. In 2003 the University of Maryland unveiled a statue of Kermit the Frog and Mr. Henson on a
marble bench. |
| |
| Source: Office of the Maryland Secretary of State |
