List of people from Delaware
This is a list of all people prominent enough to be contained in Wikipedia who were associated with the state of Delaware, including those who were born, lived or were otherwise associated with locally performed activities in a recognizable way.
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- Walter W. Bacon (1879–1962), Mayor of Wilmington and Governor of Delaware
- John Backus (1924–2007), computer scientist, invented Fortran and Backus–Naur Form
- L. Heisler Ball (1861–1932), U.S. Representative and Senator from Delaware
- Phineas Banning (1830–1885), businessman and entrepreneur in Delaware and California
- Richard Bassett (1745–1815), U.S. Senator and Governor of Delaware
- Alice M. Batchelder (born 1944), attorney and judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- Martin W. Bates (1786–1869), State Representative and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- Alexis I. du Pont Bayard (1918–1985), veteran of World War II and Lieutenant Governor of Delaware
- James A. Bayard, Sr. (1767–1815), U.S. Representative and Senator from Delaware
- James A. Bayard, Jr. (1799–1880), U.S. Attorney and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- Richard H. Bayard (1796–1868), Chief Justice and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- Thomas F. Bayard (1828–1898), U.S. Senator from Delaware and U.S. Secretary of State
- Thomas F. Bayard, Jr. (1868–1942), U.S. Senator from Delaware
- Gunning Bedford, Sr. (1742–1797), Revolutionary officer and Governor of Delaware
- Gunning Bedford, Jr. (1747–1812), lawyer and Continental Congressman from Delaware
- Caleb P. Bennett (1758–1836), Revolutionary officer and Governor of Delaware
- Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (born 1942), 47th Vice President of the United States and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- Joseph R. "Beau" Biden III (born 1969), lawyer and Attorney General of Delaware
- Sheena Benton (born 1982), Miss Delaware USA in 2005
- Valerie Bertinelli (born 1960), actress (One Day at a Time, Hot in Cleveland)
- Benjamin T. Biggs (1821–1893), U.S. Representative and Governor of Delaware
- Cedella Booker (1926–2008), Singer and Jamaica native, mother of the singer Bob Marley
- Nicole Bosso (born 1986), Miss Delaware USA 2007
- J. Caleb Boggs (1909–1993), Governor and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- William H. Boyce (1855–1942), Justice of the Superior Court and U.S. Representative from Delaware
- Charles Brandt, chief deputy attorney general of Delaware and investigator of Jimmy Hoffa disappearance
- Madison Brengle, (born 1990) Tennis player and 2007 Juniors Wimbledon runner-up
- Dennis Brockenborough, trombone player
- Franklin Brockson (1865–1942), State Representative and U.S. Representative from Delaware
- James M. Broom (1776–1850), lawyer and U.S. Representative from Delaware
- Clifford Brown (1930–1956), influential jazz trumpeter
- C. Douglass Buck (1890–1965), Governor and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- David P. Buckson (born 1920), Attorney General and Governor of Delaware
- Colin Burns, (born 1982), professional soccer player in Norway
- Hiram R. Burton, (1841–1927), physician and U.S. Representative from Delaware
- William Burton, (1789–1866), physician and Governor of Delaware
- William Sharp Bush (17??–1812), U.S. Marine award winner in the War of 1812
C
- Philip L. Cannon (1850–1929), Lieutenant Governor of Delaware
- William Cannon (1809–1865), General Assembly and Governor of Delaware
- Joseph M. Carey (1845–1924), lawyer and politician from Wyoming, born in Delaware
- Joe Carnahan (born 1969), film director, born in Delaware
- Matthew Michael Carnahan, screenwriter, born in Delaware
- John C. Carney, Jr. (born 1956), Secretary of Finance and Lieutenant Governor of Delaware
- Thomas R. Carper (born 1947), Governor and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- Elbert N. Carvel (1910–2005), businessman and Governor of Delaware
- Michael N. Castle (born 1939), U.S. Representatative and Governor of Delaware
- John W. Causey (1841–1908), farmer and U.S. Representative from Delaware
- Peter F. Causey (1801–1871), General Assembly and Governor of Delaware
- Alfred D. Chandler, Jr. (1918–2007), business history at Harvard, born of Guyencourt, Delaware
- Anne Rogers Clark (1929–2006), dog breeder and trainer, associate in Delaware
- John Clark (1761–1821), General Assembly and Governor of Delaware
- John M. Clayton (1796–1856), U.S. Senator from Delaware and U.S. Secretary of State
- Joshua Clayton (1744–1798), Governor and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- Thomas Clayton (1777–1854), Chief Justice and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- John P. Cochran (1809–1898), farmer and Governor of Delaware
- Ashley Coleman (born 1981), Miss Teen 1999 of Delaware
- John Collins (1776–1822), manufactural and Governor of Delaware
- Thomas Collins (1732–1789), General Assembly and as President of Delaware
- Cornelius P. Comegys (1780–1851), General Assembly and Governor of Delaware
- Joseph P. Comegys (1813–1893), U.S. Senator and Chief Justice of Delaware
- John Cook (1730–1789), General Assembly and Governor of Delaware
- Charles "Tarzan" Cooper (1907–1980), Philadelphia professional basketball player
- Thomas Cooper (1764–1829), General Assembly and U.S. Representative from Delaware
- William B. Cooper (1777–1849), General Assembly and U.S. Representative from Delaware
- Junnie Cross (born 1978), Miss Delaware 2000
- Robert Crumb (born 1943), artist and illustrator lived in Milford and Dover, Delaware
- Elisha D. Cullen (1799–1862), lawyer and U. S. Representative from Delaware
- Nancy Currie (born 1958), astronaut
D
- Carl A. Danberg (born 1964), lawyer and Attorney General of Delaware
- Jessica Darlin (born 1976), porn star, born in Delaware
- Jehu Davis (1738–1802), General Assembly and President of Delaware
- Matthew P. Denn (born 1966), Insurance Commissioner and Lieutenant Governor of Delaware
- William D. Denney (1873–1953), General Assembly and Governor of Delaware.
- Delino DeShields (born 1969), major league baseball player, born in Delaware
- John Dickinson (1732–1808), President of Delaware and of Pennsylvania
- Philemon Dickinson (1739–1809), Continental Congressman from Delaware and U. S. Senator from New Jersey
- John Dossett, actor and singer
- Dave Douglas (1918–1978), professional golfer in the 1940s and 1950s from Delaware
- Charles I. du Pont (1797–1869), manufacturer and the Delaware General Assembly
- Henry A. du Pont (1838–1926), veteran of the Civil War and U. S. Senator from Delaware
- Pierre S. du Pont, IV (born 1935), U. S. Representative and Governor of Delaware
- Samuel Francis Du Pont (1803–1865), Rear Admiral in the United States Navy
- T. Coleman du Pont (1863–1930), President of du Pont Company and U. S. Senator from Delaware
- Victor Marie du Pont (1767–1827), manufacturer and the Delaware General Assembly
- Sara Dylan (born 1939), first wife of Bob Dylan, born in Delaware
E
- Mark Eaton (born 1977), professional ice hockey player born in Delaware
- Richard H. Ellis (1919–1989), General and commander in chief of the Strategic Air Command, from Delaware
- Raúl Esparza (born 1970), actor born in Delaware
- Oliver Evans (1755–1819), inventor born in Delaware
- Thomas B. Evans, Jr. (born 1931), lawyer and U. S. Representative from Delaware
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G
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- David Hall (1752–1817), Continental Army officer and Governor of Delaware
- John W. Hall (1817–1893), General Assembly and Governor of Delaware
- Willard Hall (1780–1875), U. S. Representative and Justice for the United States District Court
- L. Irving Handy (1861–1922), educator and U. S. Representative from Delaware
- Kwame Harris (born 1982), professional football player; born in Newark
- Orien Harris (born 1983), professional football player; born in Newark
- Joseph Haslet (1769–1823), farmer and Governor of Delaware
- Harry G. Haskell, Jr. (born 1921), businessman and U.S. Representative from Delaware.
- Daniel O. Hastings (1874–1966) lawyer and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- David Hazzard (1781–1864), Associate Justice and Governor of Delaware
- Walt Hazzard (born 1942), college, Olympic and professional basketball player; college basketball coach; born in Wilmington
- William H. Heald (1864–1939), lawyer and U. S. Representative from Delaware
- Henry Heimlich (born 1920), physician, invented the Heimlich Maneuver; born in Wilmington
- Anthony Higgins (1840–1912), lawyer and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- John H. Hoffecker (1827–1900), engineer and U. S. Representative from Delaware
- Walter O. Hoffecker (1854–1934), businessman and U. S. Representative from Delaware
- General Thomas Holcomb (1879–1965), 17th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps; born in New Castle
- Outerbridge Horsey (1777–1842), General Assembly and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- Cisco Houston (1918–1961), folk singer closely associated with Woody Guthrie; born in Wilmington
- Henry A. Houston (1847–1925), businessman and U. S. Representative from Delaware
- John W. Houston (1814–1896), U.S. Representative and Justice of Delaware Superior Court
- Robert G. Houston (1867–1946), lawyer and U.S. Representative from Delaware
- James H. Hughes (1867–1953), lawyer and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- John Hunn (1818–1894), farmer and abolitionist; from Odessa
- John Hunn (1849–1926), businessman and Governor of Delaware
- Doug Hutchison (born 1960), actor; born in Dover
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K
- Edward E. Kaufman (born 1939), U.S. Senator from Delaware
- Dyre Kearney (died 1791), lawyer and delegate to the Continental Congress from Delaware
- Pat Kenney (born 1968), professional wrestler (stage name: Simon Diamond); born in Wilmington, Delaware
- Richard R. Kenney (1856–1931), lawyer and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- Patrick Kerr (born 1956), television actor; born in Wilmington, Delaware
L
- Henry Latimer (1752–1819), U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- Caleb R. Layton (1851–1930), physican and U. S. Representative from Delaware
- Daniel J. Layton (1879–1960), Chief Justice and Attorney General of Delaware
- Isaac Lea (1792–1886), conchologist, geologist, business man; born in Wilmington
- Preston Lea (1841–1916), businessman and Governor of Delaware.
- Jennifer Leigh (Born August 10, 1983), Also known and Jennicide, professional poker player, playboy model.
- Judith LeClair (born 1958), bassoonist (New York Philharmonic), of faculty of Juilliard School; from Newark
- Warren Lewis (1882–1975), prominent chemical engineer and MIT professor
- John Bernard "Hans" Lobert (1881–1968), Major League Baseball player, coach, manager and scout; born in Wilmington
- James R. Lofland (1823–1894), lawyer and U. S. Representative from Delaware
- Charles B. Lore (1831–1911), lawyer and U. S. Representative from Delaware
M
- John Mabry (born 1970), professional baseball player; born in Wilmington
- Isaac J. MacCollum (1889–1968), physician and Lieutenant Governor of Delaware
- Thomas MacDonough (1783- 1825), United States Navy commodore, victor of the Battle of Lake Champlain in the War of 1812
- Jack A. Markell (born 1960), State Treasurer and Governor of Delaware
- Edward L. Martin (1837–1897), lawyer and U. S. Representative from Delaware
- Joshua H. Marvil (1825–1895), merchant and Governor of Delaware
- Joseph Maull (1781–1846), General Assembly and Governor of Delaware
- James D. McGinnis (1932–2009), realtor and Lieutenant Governor of Delaware.
- Eleazer McComb (died 1798), Continental soldier and Continental Congressman from Delaware
- Harris B. McDowell, Jr. (1906–1988), General Assembly and U. S. Representative from Delaware
- Bernie McInerney (born 1936), actor; born in Wilmington
- Thomas McKean (1734–1817), Chief Justice and Governor of Pennsylvania
- John McKinly (1721–1796), General Assembly and President of Delaware
- Marshall Kirk McKusick (born 1954), computer scientist
- Louis McLane (1786–1857), U.S. Representative from Delaware and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury
- Richard C. McMullen (1868–1944), manufacturer and Governor of Delaware
- Charles R. Miller (1857–1927), General Assembly and Governor of Delaware
- Thomas W. Miller (1886–1973), lawyer and U.S. Representative from Delaware
- Henry Milligan (born 1958) Amateur Athletic Union Heavyweight boxing Champion in1983
- John J. Milligan (1795–1875), lawyer snd U.S. Representative from Delaware
- Ruth Ann Minner (born 1935), Lieutenant Governor and Governor of Delaware
- Nathaniel Mitchell (1753–1815), Continental Congressman and Governor of Delaware
- Henry Molleston (1762–1819), General Assembly and elected Governor of Delaware
- Jacob Moore, Attorney General of Delaware
- Hugh M. Morris, federal judge
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- William Jackson Palmer
- John Patten (1746–1800), General Assembly and U.S. Representative from Delaware
- Samuel Paynter (1768–1845), General Assembly and Governor of Delaware
- William Peery (1743–1800), General Assembly and Continental Congressman from Delaware.
- John B. Penington (1825–1902), Attorney General and U. S. Representative from Delaware
- Simeon S. Pennewill (1867–1935), General Assembly and Governor of Delaware
- Russell W. Peterson (born 1916), scientist and Governor of Delaware
- Ryan Phillippe (born 1974), actor; born in New Castle
- Aubrey Plaza (born 1984), actress/comedienne, April Ludgate on Parks and Recreation
- David Plouffe (born 1967), Senior Adviser to the Obama administration; born in Wilmington
- Albert F. Polk (1869–1955), lawyer and U.S. Representative from Delaware
- Charles Polk, Jr. (1788–1857), General Assembly and Governor of Delaware
- Teri Polo (born 1969), actress; born in Dover
- James Ponder (1819–1897), General Assembly and Governor of Delaware
- Bill Press (born 1940), talk radio host, liberal commentator, author
- Howard Pyle
- Joe Pyne, broadcaster
R
- George Read (1733–1798), U.S. Senator from Delaware and Chief Justice of Delaware
- Judge Reinhold (born 1957), actor; born in Wilmington
- Eugene Reybold
- Robert J. Reynolds (1838–1909), General Assembly and Governor of Delaware
- Harry A. Richardson (1853–1928), businessman and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- George R. Riddle (1817–1867), U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- Henry M. Ridgely (1779–1847), U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- Robert P. Robinson (1869–1939), banker and Governor of Delaware
- Thomas Robinson, Jr. (1800–1843), lawyet and U.S. Representative from Delaware
- Caesar Rodney (1728–1784), Continental Congressman and President of Delaware
- Caesar A. Rodney (1772–1824), U.S. Senator from Delaware and U.S. Attorney General
- Caleb Rodney (1767–1840), General Assembly and Governor of Delaware.
- Daniel Rodney (1764–1846), Governor and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- George B. Rodney (1803–1883), lawyer and U.S. Representative from Delaware
- Thomas Rodney (1744–1811),General Assembly and Continental Congressman from Delaware
- Daniel Rogers (1754–1806), General Assembly and Governor of Delaware
- John W. Rollins (1916–2000), businessman and Lieutenant Governor of Delaware.
- David Roselle (born 1939), mathematician and academic administrator
- William H. H. Ross (1814–1887), farmer and Governor of Delaware
- William V. Roth, Jr. (1923–2003), U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator from Delaware, and namesake of the Roth IRA and the Roth 401(k) retirement savings plans.
- Cynthia Rothrock (born March 8, 1957), American martial artist
S
- Eli M. Saulsbury (1817–1893), General Assembly and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- Gove Saulsbury (1815–1881), General Assembly and Governor of Delaware.
- Willard Saulsbury, Sr. (1820–1892), Chancellor of Delaware and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- Willard Saulsbury, Jr. (1861–1927), lawyer and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- Mary Ann Shadd (1823–1893), educator, newspaper publisher, abolitionist and suffragist; born in Wilmington
- Dave Sheridan (born 1969), actor
- Chris Short, Major League Baseball player
- Andrew Shue (born 1967), actor; born in Wilmington
- Elisabeth Shue (born 1963), actress; born in Wilmington
- Melanie Sloan, Executive Director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
- Devin Smith, professional basketball player
- Nathaniel B. Smithers (1818–1896), lawyer and U. S. Representative from Delaware
- Thomas Alfred Smyth, last Union General killed in the Civil War
- Ian Snell (born 1981), Major League Baseball player.
- Presley Spruance (1785–1863), General Assembly and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- W. Laird Stabler, Jr. (1930–2008), lawyer and Attorney General of Delaware
- J. George Stewart (1890–1970), architect and U.S. Representative from Delaware
- Michael Stewart (born 1977), professional boxer
- Charles C. Stockley (1819–1901), General Assembly and Governor of Delaware
- Thomas Stockton (1781–1846), soldier and Governor of Delaware
- Jacob Stout (1764–1857), General Assembly and Governor of Delaware.
- Susan Stroman (born 1954), choreographer, director; born in Wilmington
- James Sykes (1725–1792), General Assembly and Continental Congress
- James Sykes (1761–1822), General Assembly and Governor of Delaware.
T
- William Temple (1814–1863), Governor and U.S. Representative from Delaware
- Charles L. Terry, Jr. (1900–1970), Chief Justice and Governor of Delaware
- William Tharp (1803–1865), General Assembly and as Governor of Delaware
- Charles Thomas (1790–1848), General Assembly and Governor of Delaware
- Lorenzo Thomas, (1804-18750), United States Army Adjunct General, participant in the impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson
- Sean Patrick Thomas (born 1970), actor; born in Wilmington
- Jim Thompson (born 1906), businessman; born in Greenville
- George Thorogood (born 1951), blues-rock musician; from Wilmington
- James Tilton (1745–1822), physician, soldier, delegate in the Continental Congress; from Dover
- Alfred Thomas Archimedes Torbert (1833–1880); Union Army General and U.S. diplomat; born in Georgetown
- Reorus Torkillus (1608–1643), first Swedish Lutheran Minister to New Sweden
- John G. Townsend, Jr. (1871–1964), Governor and U. S. Senator from Delaware
- Philip A. Traynor (1874–1962), dentist and U.S. Representative from Delaware
- Sherman W. Tribbitt (born 1922), Lieutenant Governor and Governor of Delaware
- George Truitt (1756–1818), General Assembly and Governor of Delaware
- Ebe W. Tunnell (1844–1917), General Assembly and Governor of Delaware
- James M. Tunnell (1879–1957), lawyer and U.S. Senator from Delaware
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W
- John Wales (1783–1863), lawyer and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- Herbert B. Warburton (1916–1983), lawyer and U.S. Representative from Delaware
- Herta Ware (1917–2005), actress and political activist; born in Wilmington
- William T. Watson (1849–1917), General Assembly and Governor of Delaware
- Johnny Weir (born 1984), figure skater, three-time U.S. national champion
- William H. Wells (176-1829) General Assembly and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- Samuel Wharton (1732–1800), merchant and Continental Congressman
- William G. Whiteley (1819–1886), Mayor of Wilmington and U. S. Representative from Delaware
- Randy White (American football) NFL Hall of Famer
- Samuel White (1770–1809), lawyer and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- Kathleen Widdoes (born 1939), actress; born in Wilmington
- Earle D. Willey (1889–1950), lawyer and U.S. Representative from Delaware
- George S. Williams (1877–1961), businessman and U.S. Representative from Delaware
- James Williams (1825–1899), General Assembly and U. S. Representative from Delaware
- John J Williams (1904–1988), businessman and U.S. Senator from Delaware
- Jonathan S. Willis (1830–1903), minister and U. S. Representative from Delaware
- Josiah O. Wolcott (1877–1938), U.S. Senator and Chancellor of Delaware
- Dale E. Wolf (born 1924), Lieutenant Governor and Governor of Delaware
- Shien Biau Woo (born 1937), professor and Lieutenant Governor of Delaware
- Thomas Wynne (1627–1691), physician, Justice of Sussex County from 1687–1691
Y
Z
- Aleksandra Ziółkowska Boehm (born 1949), writer of Polish origin, lives in Wilmington