Biographical Records

Notable People from South Carolina

1,214 notable figures born in South Carolina, showing page 2 of 25, ranked by historical prominence.

William Gilmore Simms
William Gilmore Simms
American writer (1806–1870)
1806 – 1870
novelisthistorianpoet
Robert Smalls
Robert Smalls
American politician and former slave (1839-1915)
1839 – 1915
maritime pilotmilitary officerpolitician
James Jamerson
American bassist (1936–1983)
1936 – 1983
pop musiciandouble-bassistmusician
Rufus Thomas
Rufus Thomas
American singer (1917–2001)
1917 – 2001
blues singerpresenterdancer
Daniel Harvey Hill
Daniel Harvey Hill
Confederate States Army general (1821–1889)
1821 – 1889
university teacher
Reverend Gary Davis
Reverend Gary Davis
American blues and gospel singer and guitarist (1896–1972)
1896 – 1972
blues musicianbanjoiststreet artist
Josh White
Josh White
American singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor, and civil rights activist (1914-1969)
1914 – 1969
recording artistguitaristsinger-songwriter
Diego Corrales
Diego Corrales
American professional boxer (1977–2007)
1977 – 2007
boxer
J. Marion Sims
J. Marion Sims
American physician and gynecologist (1813-1883)
1813 – 1883
gynecologistsurgeonphysician
Wade Hampton III
Wade Hampton III
American politician (1818-1902)
1818 – 1902
politician
Preston Brooks
Preston Brooks
South Carolina politician. (1819–1857)
1819 – 1857
politicianlawyer
Benjamin Tillman
Benjamin Tillman
American politician (1847–1918)
1847 – 1918
politician
Florence Scovel Shinn
Florence Scovel Shinn
American writer, artist and book illustrator (1871–1940)
1871 – 1940
spiritual teacherillustratorartist
DuBose Heyward
DuBose Heyward
American novelist, playwright, poet (1885-1940)
1885 – 1940
librettistnovelistpoet
Helen Chandler
Helen Chandler
American actress (1906–1965)
1906 – 1965
film actorstage actoractor
Bettye Ackerman
Bettye Ackerman
American actress (1924-2006)
1924 – 2006
film actortelevision actoractor
Lucky Thompson
Lucky Thompson
American jazz saxophonist (1924–2005)
1924 – 2005
recording artistsaxophonistjazz musician
Christopher Gadsden
Christopher Gadsden
American soldier and politician (1724-1805)
1724 – 1805
military officerpoliticiansailor
Joel Roberts Poinsett
Joel Roberts Poinsett
politician and diplomat (1779-1851)
1779 – 1851
scientific collectorbotanistdiplomat
Melvin Purvis
Melvin Purvis
FBI Agent (1903–1960)
1903 – 1960
lawyer
Ellsworth Raymond Johnson
Ellsworth Raymond Johnson
African-American mobster (1905-1968)
1905 – 1968
drug trafficker
Nina Mae McKinney
Nina Mae McKinney
American actress (1912-1967)
1912 – 1967
television actorfilm actordancer
Joseph Bernardin
Catholic cardinal (1928–1996)
1928 – 1996
Christian ministerCatholic priestCatholic bishop
Clementa C. Pinckney
American politician
1973 – 2015
activistpastorpolitician
Henry Laurens
Henry Laurens
American slave trader, planter, and congressman (1724-1792)
1724 – 1792
slave traderdiplomatpolitician
William Charles Wells
Scottish-American physician and printer
1757 – 1817
military physician
Thomas Pinckney
Thomas Pinckney
American statesman, diplomat and general (1745–1828)
1750 – 1828
diplomatmilitary officergovernor
Francis Marion
Francis Marion
American politician, Continental Army officer (1732-1795)
1732 – 1795
soldierpolitician
Albert Mackey
Albert Mackey
U.S. writer on freemasonry (1807-1881)
1807 – 1881
historianphysicianwriter
Julia Peterkin
Julia Peterkin
American writer (1880–1961)
1880 – 1961
novelistteacherwriter
Jess Barker
Jess Barker
American actor (1912-2000)
1912 – 2000
film actoractor
Cale Yarborough
Cale Yarborough
American racecar driver (1939–2023)
1939 – 2023
NASCAR team ownerracing automobile driver
James Gadsden
James Gadsden
American diplomat, soldier, planter, politician and railroad manager (1788–1858)
1788 – 1858
soldierdiplomatentrepreneur
Stephen Elliott
Stephen Elliott
American politician, botanist (1771-1830)
1771 – 1830
phycologistbotanistbotanical collector
Thomas Jefferson Rusk
Thomas Jefferson Rusk
American politician (1803–1857)
1803 – 1857
politicianlawyerjudge
Mary Boykin Chesnut
Mary Boykin Chesnut
American writer (1823-1886)
1823 – 1886
diaristwriter
Richard H. Anderson
Richard H. Anderson
Confederate Army general (1821-1879)
1821 – 1879
military personnel
Shoeless Joe Jackson
Shoeless Joe Jackson
American baseball player (1887–1951)
1887 – 1951
baseball player
Lois Collier
Lois Collier
American actress (1919-1999)
1919 – 1999
television actorfilm actoractor
Etta Jones
Etta Jones
American jazz singer (1928–2001)
1928 – 2001
jazz singerrecording artistjazz musician
Carlisle Floyd
Carlisle Floyd
American composer (1926–2021)
1926 – 2021
librettistuniversity teachercomposer
Virginia Capers
American actress (1925–2004)
1925 – 2004
film actortelevision actorstage actor
David Scott
David Scott
American politician, Representative for Georgia's 13th congressional district (1945–2026)
1945 – 2026
business executivepolitician
Hank Garland
American musician (1930–2004)
1930 – 2004
jazz musicianjazz guitaristguitarist
George Bass
George Bass
American underwater archeologist (1932–2021)
1932 – 2021
anthropologistarchaeologistuniversity teacher
Johnny Wactor
Johnny Wactor
American actor (1986–2024)
1986 – 2024
television actorfilm actorvoice actor
Thomas Heyward, Jr.
Thomas Heyward, Jr.
signer of the US Decleration of Independence (1746-1809)
1746 – 1809
politicianjudge
Thomas Lynch
Thomas Lynch
signer of the United States Declaration of Independence from South Carolina (1749-1779)
1749 – 1779
politician
John Gayle
John Gayle
American politician (1792-1859)
1792 – 1859
governorpoliticianlawyer
Robert Mills
Robert Mills
American architect
1781 – 1855
engineerarchitect
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