Everybody knows a guy who swears his cousin's barber cut Wahlberg's hair. But the real list of famous people from Boston is wicked deep, and it goes way past the usual suspects. We're talking Founding Fathers, the Queen of Disco, Spock and Captain America, all born right here in the Hub. One rule before we start: you had to actually be born in Boston to make this list. Grew up in Newton? Born in Cambridge? Love ya, but you're on the bench.
Benjamin Franklin (born 1706)
Before he was flying kites in thunderstorms and getting his face on the hundred, Ben Franklin was a kid from Milk Street. He was born there on January 17, 1706, and baptized at the Old South Meeting House. Then, at 17, he ran away to Philadelphia. Philly's been bragging about him ever since, and we've been quietly correcting them for about 300 years.
Paul Revere (born 1734)
The most famous horseback ride in American history started with a North End kid. Revere was born in the North End in December 1734 (January 1735 on the calendar we use now), became a silversmith, and in 1775 rode out to warn the minutemen that the British were coming. Still the only guy in Boston history who got through traffic that fast.
Samuel Morse (born 1791)
Okay, technically he was born in Charlestown on April 27, 1791, back when Charlestown was its own town. Boston annexed it in 1874, so we're counting him, and any Townie will back us up on that. Morse started out as a painter, then helped develop the single-wire telegraph and the code that carries his name. Dot-dot-dot, wicked smaht.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (born 1803)
Born in Boston on May 25, 1803, Emerson went to Harvard at 14, which is the most Boston sentence ever written. He went on to lead the transcendentalist movement and wrote the essay "Self-Reliance". Nietzsche called him the most gifted of the Americans. Your uncle calls him "that guy from the quote on the wall at the dentist's."
Edgar Allan Poe (born 1809)
Here's one that surprises people: the master of creepy was born in Boston on January 19, 1809. His very first book, Tamerlane and Other Poems, was credited only to "a Bostonian." Poe later trash-talked the city plenty, but Boston forgave him and put up a statue, "Poe Returning to Boston," at the corner of Boylston and Charles. Nevermore? More like evermore, pal.
Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy (born 1890)
The matriarch of the Kennedy family was born on July 22, 1890, at 4 Garden Court in the North End. Her father, John "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald, was mayor of Boston, and her nine kids included a president. She lived to 104. Born in the North End, tough as a cannoli shell. Checks out.
Leonard Nimoy (born 1931)
Mr. Spock himself was born on March 26, 1931, in the West End of Boston, to Jewish immigrants from Ukraine. He played Spock for more than 40 years, from the original Star Trek to the 2009 reboot. Live long and prosper, and maybe grab a frappe on the way.
Donna Summer (born 1948)
The Queen of Disco was born Donna Adrian Gaines in Boston on New Year's Eve, December 31, 1948. Years later she'd rule dance floors around the world, but the voice started here. Next time "Hot Stuff" comes on at a wedding in Quincy, tell the table she's one of ours.
Bobby Brown (born 1969)
Bobby Brown was born in Boston on February 5, 1969, and grew up in Roxbury's Orchard Park projects. That's where he and his childhood friends started New Edition in 1978. "Candy Girl," "Cool It Now," then a solo run that helped build new jack swing. Roxbury, stand up.
Uma Thurman (born 1970)
The Bride from Kill Bill was born in Boston on April 29, 1970, and grew up mostly out in Amherst. She has a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination. We'd like to think the Boston birth certificate is where the "don't mess with me" energy comes from.
Mark Wahlberg (born 1971)
You knew he was coming. Mark Wahlberg was born on June 5, 1971, in Dorchester, went from Marky Mark to movie star, and earned an Oscar nomination playing a foul-mouthed Mass State Police staff sergeant in The Departed. Typecasting? Never heard of it. Dot Ave's finest, wicked proud.
Chris Evans (born 1981)
Captain America was born in Boston on June 13, 1981, and grew up in Sudbury. His movies have grossed more than $11 billion worldwide. Born in the city, raised in the 'burbs, and still one of ours. Sorry, Brooklyn.
Born Here, Proud Forever
So that's the list: inventors, poets, patriots, pop stars and two different superheroes, if you count Spock (we do). Whether you came up in Dot, Southie, the North End or a triple-decker in Rozzie, you're in good company. Show it off with our She's From Boston T-Shirt, or for the loud talkers in the family, grab the I'm Not "YELLING" I'm From Boston T-Shirt. Who'd we miss? Born-in-Boston only. Nice try, Newton.
Stay wicked,
Ryan & the Chowdaheadz crew