39.9292° N, 75.2300° W

PHILADELPHIA

Most Famous People Born in Philadelphia, USA

Notable people
5,575
Peak decade
1940s
Median birth year
1928
Most distinctive
Baseball 6.0×

The original American capital, then the capital of nothing in particular, then a sports town. Philadelphia's notables run thick through the 18th century — lawyers, philanthropists, financiers — and then settle into a long, steady output of baseball players, basketball players, jazz bandleaders, and character actors. The city has one of the highest shares of notables in organized labor of the early 20th century and one of the deepest benches of soul singers of the late 20th.

Standouts

What Philadelphia Is Known For

Click any row to filter the list of people below.

Politician is Philadelphia's biggest profession — 9% of all notables (482).

Philadelphia over-indexes on baseball 6.0× the global rate.

Philadelphia under-produces football — only 0.4× the global rate.

  1. Politician 482 0.7×
  2. Actor 414 1.4×
  3. Baseball 383 6.0×
  4. Basket 260 3.7×
  5. Football 251 0.4×
  6. Music 206 2.6×
  7. Lawyer 185 1.9×
  8. Singer 161 1.4×
  1. Baseball 383 6.0×
  2. Basket 260 3.7×
  3. Boxer 72 3.3×
  4. Rower 57 2.8×
  5. Music 206 2.6×
  6. Officer 84 2.3×
  7. Lawyer 185 1.9×
  8. Film 113 1.6×
  1. Football 251 0.4×

Profession Mix Over Time

Each band shows a profession family's share of Philadelphia's notable births by decade. Hover the chart for the breakdown at any decade.

1700 1750 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000
  • Sports
  • Politics & Law
  • Film & TV
  • Music
  • Writing
  • Art & Design
  • Other
All5,575
Sort By

5,575 notable people

2101 DIPLOMAT

Alexander Montgomery Thackara

1848 - 1937

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2102 SCREENWRITER

David Bar Katz

-

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2103 THEATRE

John Cecil Holm

1904 - 1981

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2104 POLITICIAN

Charles O'Neill (Pennsylvania politician)

1821 - 1893

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2105 BASEBALL

Lee Elia

Born 1937

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2106 JOURNALIST

Judy Stone (journalist)

1924 - 2017

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2107 WIFE OF

Marian Thayer

1872 - 1944

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2108 BASKET

Art Spector

1920 - 1987

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2109 POLITICIAN

George Scott Graham

1850 - 1931

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2110 PRODUCER

Herb Sargent

1923 - 2005

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2111 POLITICIAN

Joel Cook

1842 - 1910

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2112 PHYSICIAN

William Shippen Jr.

1736 - 1808

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2113 ACTOR

Paul Ryan (actor)

1945 - 2015

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2114 ACTOR

Noam Pitlik

1932 - 1999

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2115 PAINTER

George Biddle

1885 - 1973

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2116 MARTIAL ART

Nah-Shon Burrell

Born 1990

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2117 POLITICAL SCIENTIST

Barnett Rubin

Born 1950

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2118 BASEBALL

Eddie Stanky

1916 - 1999

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2119 MUSIC

Danny Rapp

1941 - 1983

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2120 RADIO

Susan Block

Born 1955

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2121 JOURNALIST

Jesse Watters

Born 1978

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2122 POET

F. D. Reeve

1928 - 2013

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2123 POLITICIAN

Dwight Clinton Jones

Born 1948

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2124 BASKET

Norm Grekin

1930 - 1981

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2125 POLITICIAN

Samuel Sitgreaves

1764 - 1827

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2126 BASKET

Trooper Washington

1944 - 2004

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2127 OFFICER

Richard S. Edwards

1885 - 1956

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2128 PRIEST

John Joseph Graham

1913 - 2000

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2129 PLAYER

B. Jay Becker

1904 - 1987

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2130 ACTOR

Patrick Cronin (actor)

Born 1941

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2131 PLAYER

Allan Muhr

1882 - 1944

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2132 POLITICIAN

John C. Smith (politician)

1832 - 1910

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2133 PLAYER

Helen Sobel Smith

1909 - 1969

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2134 ACTOR

Rachel Alana Handler

Born 1988

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2135 PAINTER

Joseph Hirsch

1910 - 1981

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2136 TRACK AND FIELD

William Remington (athlete)

1879 - 1963

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2137 ACTOR

Al Thompson

1884 - 1960

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2138 PALAEONTOLOGIST

Arthur James Boucot

1924 - 2017

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2139 EARLY SETTLER

Mary Draper Ingles

1732 - 1815

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2140 WRITER

Lillian Hoban

1925 - 1998

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2141 POLITICIAN

Charles H. Mansur

1835 - 1895

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2142 BASEBALL

Ned Cuthbert

1845 - 1905

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2143 LAWYER

Joseph Biles Anthony

1795 - 1851

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2144 BASEBALL

Mo'ne Davis

Born 2001

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2145 HOCKEY

Horace Disston

1906 - 1982

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2146 NOVELIST

Bebe Moore Campbell

1950 - 2006

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2147 OFFICER

John Hyland

1912 - 1998

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2148 ENGINEER

John Vincent Lawless Hogan

1890 - 1960

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2149 PSYCHOLOGIST

Arthur S. Reber

Born 1940

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2150 POLITICIAN

John F. Starr

1818 - 1904

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2151 LAWYER

David Brooks (politician)

1756 - 1838

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2152 POLITICIAN

Samuel M. Moore

1796 - 1875

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2153 BASKET

Brandon Penn

Born 1990

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2154 CANOE

Maggie Hogan

Born 1979

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2155 ROWER

Charles McIlvaine (rower)

1903 - 1975

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2156 SURVIVOR

Stephenie LaGrossa

Born 1978

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2157 BASEBALL

Silver Flint

1855 - 1892

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2158 MATADOR

John Fulton (torero)

1933 - 1998

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2159 ACTOR

R. D. Robb

Born 1972

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2160 POLITICIAN

Robert A. Borski Jr.

Born 1948

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2161 SINGER

Tom Glazer

1914 - 2003

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2162 PRIEST

David B. Thompson

1923 - 2013

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2163 ACADEMIC

Robert M. Koerner

1933 - 2019

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2164 SPORT

Abe Pollin

1923 - 2009

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2165 RABBI

Jacob Pressman

1919 - 2015

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2166 POLITICIAN

Thomas Birch Florence

1812 - 1875

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2167 BASEBALL

Harry O'Neill (catcher)

1917 - 1945

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2168 PHOTOGRAPHER

Dorothy Norman

1905 - 1997

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2169 ARTIST

Charles Grafly

1862 - 1929

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2170 OFFICER

Charles Grymes McCawley

1827 - 1891

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2171 BASKET

Eddie Mast

1948 - 1994

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2172 ENGINEER

Alfred P. Boller

1840 - 1912

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2173 MUSIC

Leroy Lovett

1919 - 2013

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2174 LAWYER

Jed S. Rakoff

Born 1943

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2175 RACE CAR

Kelly Petillo

1903 - 1970

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2176 LAWYER

Myer Feldman

1914 - 2007

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2177 SON

Joseph Lucien Bonaparte

1824 - 1865

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2178 MUSIC

Duane Eubanks

Born 1969

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2179 POLITICIAN

Edwin Henry Fitler

1825 - 1896

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2180 FOOTBALL

Sharrif Floyd

Born 1992

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2181 HISTORIAN

Richard Harrison Shryock

1893 - 1972

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2182 ACTOR

Paul Jenkins (actor)

1938 - 2013

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2183 INVENTOR

Richard T. James

1914 - 1974

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2184 ACTOR

Joey Forman

1929 - 1982

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2185 ACTOR

Marian Swayne

1891 - 1973

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2186 JOURNALIST

Courtney Friel

Born 1980

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2187 POLITICIAN

Jim Whelan

1948 - 2017

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2188 OFFICER

George A. McCall

1802 - 1868

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2189 BASKET

Fran O'Hanlon

Born 1948

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2190 CHEMIST

Helen Abbott Michael

1857 - 1904

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2191 LAWYER

Deborah K. Ross

Born 1963

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2192 RAPPER

Whitney Peyton

-

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2193 REVEREND

Maria Louisa Bustill

1853 - 1904

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2194 FILM

Elliot M. Bour

Born 1969

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2195 BASKET

Al Guokas

1925 - 1990

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2196 TRADE UNION

L. C. Hughes

1842 - 1915

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2197 PATHOLOGIST

Veit Krenn

Born 1960

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2198 ROWER

Franz Federschmidt

1894 - 1956

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2199 SCREENWRITER

Ruth Goetz

1912 - 2001

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2200 POLITICIAN

John M. Morin

1868 - 1942

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2201 EXPLORER

Brooke Dolan II

1908 - 1945

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2202 ZOOLOGIST

Murray S. Blum

Born 1929

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2203 SPORT

Suzy Kolber

Born 1964

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2204 MATHEMATICIAN

Martin Schechter (mathematician)

Born 1930

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2205 BOXER

Jesse Hart

Born 1989

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2206 ACTOR

Michael Shaowanasai

Born 1964

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2207 SONGWRITER

Bunny Sigler

1941 - 2017

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2208 LAWYER

James Milnor

1773 - 1845

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2209 PAINTER

Seth Hoffman (artist)

1895 - 1948

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2210 ILLUSTRATOR

Ida Waugh

1846 - 1919

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2211 POLITICIAN

Joseph Jorgensen

1844 - 1888

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2212 WRITER

Harold Weisberg

1913 - 2002

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2213 PIANIST

Edith Grosz

1919 - 2011

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2214 LAWYER

Raymond J. Broderick

1914 - 2000

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2215 EDITOR

John M. Snowden

1776 - 1845

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2216 HIGH JUMP

Alice Arden (athlete)

1914 - 2012

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2217 PAINTER

Andrew Kay Womrath

1869 - 1939

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2218 COMPOSER

John Sebastian (classical harmonica player)

1914 - 1980

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2219 JUDGE

Robert D. Sack

Born 1939

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2220 BOXER

Ivan Robinson

Born 1971

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2221 PAINTER

William Howard Shuster

1893 - 1969

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2222 FOOTBALL

Jameel McClain

Born 1985

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2223 COMPOSER

Danny Sembello

1963 - 2015

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2224 PHOTOGRAPHER

Zoe Strauss

Born 1970

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2225 POLITICIAN

James Williams (Delaware representative)

1825 - 1899

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2226 POLITICIAN

Richard Bache Jr.

1784 - 1848

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2227 ACTOR

Julian Christopher

Born 1944

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2228 PENCILLER

Miriam Engelberg

1958 - 2006

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2229 FOOTBALL

Kyle Eckel

Born 1981

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2230 BOXER

Steve Little (boxer)

1965 - 2000

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2231 MUSIC

Anna King (singer)

1937 - 2002

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2232 POLITICIAN

Joseph Clay

1769 - 1811

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2233 PLAYWRIGHT

Ed Bullins

Born 1935

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2234 COMPOSER

Bill McGlaughlin

Born 1943

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2235 PHYSICIST

Paul R. Heyl

1872 - 1961

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2236 FILM

Jerold T. Hevener

Born 1873

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2237 POLITICIAN

Charles Browne (politician)

1875 - 1947

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2238 HISTORIAN

Francis R. Nicosia

Born 1944

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2239 LAWYER

Thomas Irwin

1785 - 1870

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2240 POLITICIAN

Charles Godfrey (physician)

Born 1917

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2241 ORGANIST

Eddie Layton

1925 - 2004

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2242 SOCIOLOGIST

Mervin F. Verbit

Born 1936

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2243 PRIEST

Edward Cullen (bishop)

Born 1933

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2244 AUTHOR

John G. Fuller

1913 - 1990

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2245 EXECUTIVE

Stacey Snider

Born 1961

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2246 BASKET

Jason Cain

Born 1985

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2247 PRODUCER

Vinton Freedley

1891 - 1969

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2248 ROWER

Erich Federschmidt

1895 - 1962

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2249 ROWER

Robert Perew

1923 - 1999

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2250 LAWYER

Mifflin Wistar Gibbs

1823 - 1915

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2251 BOXER

William Guthrie

Born 1967

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2252 MUSIC

Maureen Herman

Born 1966

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2253 HISTORIAN

Ira D. Gruber

Born 1934

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2254 FILM

John Powers Middleton

Born 1984

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2255 BASKET

Sharnee Zoll-Norman

Born 1986

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2256 SCULPTOR

Harriet Whitney Frishmuth

1880 - 1980

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2257 BOXER

Buster Drayton

Born 1954

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2258 MUSIC

Chalmers Alford

1955 - 2008

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2259 PHYSICIAN

Alfred Stillé

1813 - 1900

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2260 COMPOSER

Benj Pasek

Born 1985

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2261 BASEBALL

Dion James

Born 1962

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2262 CHEMIST

Rudolph Hering

1847 - 1923

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2263 BASKET

Sherman White (basketball)

1928 - 2011

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2264 PIANIST

Peggy Stern

Born 1948

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2265 POLITICIAN

Benjamin Say

1755 - 1813

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2266 PRIEST

Thomas J. McDonough

1911 - 1998

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2267 PHOTOGRAPHER

William H. Rau

1855 - 1920

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2268 INVENTOR

Maria Beasley

Born 1847

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2269 DESIGNER

Richard Amsel

1947 - 1985

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2270 SINGER

Rose Hemingway

Born 1984

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2271 FOOTBALL

Courtney Niemiec

Born 1992

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2272 DANCER

Brian Fortuna

Born 1982

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2273 SINGER

Mike City

-

Preview
2274 RAPPER

Peedi Peedi

Born 1977

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2275 POLITICIAN

Bryan Lentz

Born 1964

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2276 POLITICIAN

Claude Allen

Born 1960

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2277 POLITICIAN

James R. Young (Pennsylvania politician)

1847 - 1924

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2278 CHESS

Michael Wilder

Born 1962

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2279 BOXER

Rock Allen

Born 1981

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2280 POLITICIAN

Douglas Hemphill Elliott

1921 - 1960

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2281 PAINTER

Stephen Powers (artist)

Born 1968

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2282 ACTOR

Dom Irrera

Born 1947

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2283 PSYCHIATRIST

Herbert Needleman

1927 - 2017

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2284 POLITICIAN

Edward L. Bader

1874 - 1927

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2285 POLITICIAN

James Hamilton (Pennsylvania)

1710 - 1783

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2286 FOOTBALL

Mike McGlinchey (offensive lineman)

Born 1994

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2287 OFFICER

Jacob Zeilin

1806 - 1880

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2288 ARTIST

Charlie White (artist)

Born 1972

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2289 BOXER

David Bey

1957 - 2017

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2290 PAINTER

Hugh Weiss

1925 - 2007

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2291 FOOTBALL

Chris Godwin

Born 1996

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2292 KEYBOARDIST

Dennis James (musician)

Born 1950

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2293 HOCKEY

Roy Coffin

1898 - 1982

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2294 PRIEST

Victor Galeone

Born 1935

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2295 BASKET

Scoop Jardine

Born 1988

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2296 POLITICIAN

Phillip Martin

1926 - 2010

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2297 ECOLOGIST

C. S. Holling

1930 - 2019

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2298 BASEBALL

Allan Travers

1892 - 1968

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2299 SOCIOLOGIST

Lillian B. Rubin

1924 - 2014

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2300 POLITICIAN

Alan Wood Jr.

1834 - 1902

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2301 ARTIST

Edward Kern

1822 - 1863

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2302 COMPOSER

Camille Zeckwer

1875 - 1924

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2303 CHEMIST

Richard Bruce Silverman

Born 1946

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2304 HISTORIAN

Conyers Read

1881 - 1959

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2305 BANDLEADER

Charlie Gaines

1900 - 1986

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2306 FOOTBALL

Daryl Worley

Born 1995

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2307 MODEL

Harold H. Saunders

1930 - 2016

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2308 BOXER

Freddie Pendleton

Born 1963

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2309 BANK

Henry Goldman

1857 - 1937

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2310 POLITICIAN

Alfred C. Harmer

1825 - 1900

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2311 ANTHROPOLOGIST

Annette Weiner

1933 - 1997

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2312 ARTIST

Wharton Esherick

1887 - 1970

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2313 FOOTBALL

Jihad Ward

Born 1994

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2314 JUDGE

William A. Fletcher

Born 1945

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2315 AUTHOR

Warren Johansson

1934 - 1994

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2316 POLITICIAN

Kate M. Harper

Born 1956

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2317 COMPOSER

Ned McGowan

Born 1970

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2318 ACTOR

Laura Nelson Hall

1876 - 1936

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2319 HISTORIAN

James S. Allen

1906 - 1986

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2320 ACTOR

Liz Larsen

Born 1959

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2321 BASKET

Alex Wesby

Born 1980

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2322 MILITAR

John Trout Greble

1834 - 1861

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2323 JOURNALIST

Eric Lipton

Born 1965

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2324 PRIEST

John Henry Hobart

1775 - 1830

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2325 POLITICIAN

J. Burrwood Daly

1872 - 1939

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2326 LAWYER

Samuel Wells Morris

1786 - 1847

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2327 POLITICIAN

Henry Myer Phillips

1811 - 1884

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2328 PIANIST

Edward Kilenyi, Jr.

1910 - 2000

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2329 MILITAR

Douglas Baird (Indian Army officer)

1953 - 1963

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2330 POLITICIAN

William A. Barrett

1896 - 1976

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2331 HISTORIAN

Ellen Schrecker

Born 1938

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2332 RAPPER

Rome Fortune

Born 1988

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2333 ACTOR

Florence Moore

1886 - 1935

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2334 BOXER

Tyrone Brunson (boxer)

Born 1985

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2335 PHOTOGRAPHER

Louise Rosskam

1910 - 2003

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2336 FOOTBALL

Jeremy Vuolo

Born 1987

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2337 ACTOR

Ed Bassmaster

Born 1973

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2338 MODEL

Ruth Malcomson

1906 - 1988

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2339 POLITICIAN

Robert Waln

1765 - 1836

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2340 POLITICIAN

William T. Granahan

1895 - 1956

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2341 PRIEST

Thomas Maguire (priest)

1776 - 1854

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2342 WRITER

Mike Berenstain

Born 1951

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2343 COMPOSER

Al Gorgoni

Born 1939

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2344 BOXER

Charles Brewer (boxer)

Born 1969

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2345 MUSIC

J. D. Walter

Born 1967

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2346 SINGER

Guy Marks

1923 - 1987

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2347 BASKET

Mendy Rudolph

1926 - 1979

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2348 POET

George Henry Boker

1823 - 1890

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2349 BOXER

Robert Hawkins (boxer)

Born 1970

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2350 POLITICIAN

Benjamin F. James

1885 - 1961

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2351 POLITICIAN

J. William Ditter

1888 - 1943

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2352 BIOGRAPHER

Lynn Sherr

Born 1942

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2353 MATHEMATICIAN

Daniel Kubert

1947 - 2010

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2354 FILM

Jerrold Freedman

Born 1941

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2355 SCREENWRITER

John B. Clymer

1887 - 1937

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2356 SINGER

Essra Mohawk

Born 1948

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2357 GUITAR

Nick Perri

Born 1984

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2358 POLITICIAN

W. Arthur Winstead

1904 - 1995

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2359 POLITICIAN

D. Lane Powers

1896 - 1968

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2360 DESIGNER

Charles Pollock (designer)

1930 - 2013

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2361 BOXER

Johnny Jadick

1908 - 1970

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2362 BASKET

Steve Courtin

Born 1942

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2363 BASKET

Shawn Harvey (basketball)

Born 1973

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2364 ANTHROPOLOGIST

Ruth Cernea

1934 - 2009

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2365 DECORATOR

Otto Siegel

1897 - 1962

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2366 PLAYER

Peggy Solomon

1909 - 1995

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2367 AUTHOR

Tina Seelig

Born 1958

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2368 KILLER

Joseph Kallinger

1935 - 1996

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2369 POLITICIAN

Harry C. Ransley

1863 - 1941

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2370 MILITAR

Alexander R. Bolling

1895 - 1964

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2371 LAWYER

Ronald M. Shapiro

Born 1943

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2372 SONGWRITER

Kenny Gamble

Born 1943

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2373 POLITICIAN

Kintzing Prichette

1800 - 1869

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2374 POLITICIAN

Charles Brown (congressman)

1797 - 1883

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2375 PRODUCER

Neo da Matrix

-

Preview
2376 BASEBALL

Danny Murphy (second baseman)

1876 - 1955

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2377 FILM

Richard Bartlett

1922 - 1994

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2378 FOOTBALL

Marcus Dupree

Born 1964

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2379 BOXER

Eric Harding

Born 1972

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2380 MUSIC

Mark Andes

Born 1948

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2381 COMPOSER

Lawrence Kramer (musicologist)

Born 1946

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2382 PHYSICIST

Sidney Fernbach

1917 - 1991

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2383 BASKET

Jim Mooney (basketball)

Born 1930

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2384 ACTOR

Marie Wainwright

1853 - 1923

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2385 HISTORIAN

Carl Bridenbaugh

1903 - 1992

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2386 JOURNALIST

Jon Entine

Born 1952

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2387 SPORT

Jayson Stark

Born 1951

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2388 ENTREPRENEUR

Adam Forepaugh

1831 - 1890

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2389 POLITICIAN

Michael Woolston Ash

1789 - 1858

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2390 BANK

Joseph William Drexel

1833 - 1888

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2391 IMPRESARIO

Lee Guber

1920 - 1988

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2392 ECONOMIST

George W. Taylor (professor)

1901 - 1972

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2393 SURGEON

Gary K. Michelson

Born 1949

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2394 LAWYER

Goler T. Butcher

1925 - 1993

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2395 HISTORIAN

Gary B. Nash

Born 1933

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2396 ENGINEER

Samuel H. Caldwell

1904 - 1960

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2397 ACTOR

Lyle Kessler

-

Preview
2398 POLITICIAN

Isaac Norris (statesman)

1701 - 1766

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2399 SURGEON

Philip Syng Physick

1768 - 1837

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2400 SINGER

William Candidus

1840 - 1910

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