City history · 1902–1974Charles Lindberghaviator, military officer, authorThe pilot of the first solo nonstop New York–Paris flight (1927) was born in his grandfather's house on West Forest Avenue; his mother was a Detroit chemistry teacher.DETROIT / A living lexicon / ¼
Famous Detroiters
People who were born here, moved here or built their careers in Detroit: musicians, carmakers, athletes, writers, inventors, civil-rights leaders and a few notorious names. With their dates, their Detroit story and the places where they lived, worked and played, closed ones included.
- 664 famous people
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Clear filtersCity history · 1902–1974Charles Lindberghaviator, military officer, authorThe pilot of the first solo nonstop New York–Paris flight (1927) was born in his grandfather's house on West Forest Avenue; his mother was a Detroit chemistry teacher.
City history · 1768–1813TecumsehShawnee chief and war leaderShawnee leader whose warriors, allied with Isaac Brock, forced the American surrender of Fort Detroit in August 1812.
Press & broadcasting · 1829–1906Carl Schurzjournalist, Union general, statesmanGerman-born revolutionary, Union general and later U.S. senator and Interior secretary, who edited the Detroit Post in 1866–1867.
Politics · 1782–1866Lewis Cassterritorial governor, U.S. senator, secretary of stateGovernor of Michigan Territory from Detroit for 18 years and 1848 Democratic presidential nominee; Cass Avenue and Cass Tech bear his name, and he rests at Elmwood.
Military · 1769–1812Isaac BrockBritish Army generalBritish general who captured Detroit and General Hull's army on August 16, 1812, with his Shawnee ally Tecumseh.
City history · 1753–1825William Hullarmy officer, first governor of Michigan TerritoryFirst governor of Michigan Territory who, as a general, surrendered Fort Detroit to the British without a battle in August 1812.
Military · 1782–1841Alexander MacombCommanding General of the US ArmyDetroit-born general, hero of the Battle of Plattsburgh in 1814 and commanding general of the US Army from 1828 to 1841; Macomb County is named after him.
Auto industry · 1879–1948William S. Knudsenpresident of General Motors, wartime production chiefDanish immigrant who ran production at Ford's Highland Park, turned Chevrolet into GM's powerhouse and organized America's World War II arms output.
Military · 1917–1944Raymond Zussmansoldier, Medal of Honor recipientHamtramck-born Jewish tank officer who received the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a French village in September 1944; a park in front of Hamtramck City Hall bears his name.
Military · 1756–1803Jean François HamtramckUS Army officer, first American commander of DetroitMontreal-born Revolutionary War officer who took over Detroit from the British in July 1796 and commanded it until his death; the city of Hamtramck 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.