George Bancroft (1800 - 1891)

Historian, Statesman. Often called the father of American history, he is best known for his historical series “History of the United States.”  Family links:  Parents:  Aaron Bancroft (1755 – 1839)  Lucretia Chandler Bancroft (1765 – 1839)  Spouse:  Elizabeth Davis Bancroft (1803 – 1886)  Siblings:  Eliza Bancroft Davis (1791 – 1872)*  Thomas Chandler Bancroft (1796 – […]

George Barbier (1866 - 1945)

Actor. He was educated for the ministry before going to work on the stage. He appeared on Broadway in such successes as “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and “The Man Who Came Back,” among others.  He signed a contract with Paramount Pictures in 1929 and later worked as an actor for most of the major […]

George Barris (1925 - 2015)

American Car Customizer and Designer. Known as the “King of the Kustomizers”, Barris created some of the most iconic automobiles for film and television, among them the Batmobile and the Munster Koach. He and his brother, Sam, began fixing up cars in their teen years, opening the Barris Brothers Custom Shop in Los Angeles in […]

George Beadle (1970 - 1989)

In 1931 George Beadle was awarded a National Research Council Fellowship at the California Institute of Technology at Pasadena, where he remained from 1931 until 1936. During this period he continued his work on Indian corn and began, in collaboration with Professors Theodosius Dobzhansky, S. Emerson, and Alfred Sturtevant, work on crossing-over in the fruit […]

George Beban, Jr (1914 - 1977)

Actor. Son of Actor George Beban Sr., he appeared in “Hearts of Men,” (1919) as ‘Beppo Rosetti’ “The Fabulous Texan,” as ‘Dick Clayton’ (1947) “Duke of Chicago” as ‘Speedy’ (1949) and as ‘Bell Captain’ in Bad Boy. (Aka The Story of Danny Lester) (1949). (bio by: MC)

George Benedict (1826 - 1907)

George Benedict was born on 10 December 1826 in Burlington, Vermont. He entered the University of Vermont and graduated with honors in 1847, receiving the degree of Master of Arts in 1850. While a student he became a member of the Sigma Phi Society as well as the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. He was […]

George Berkeley (1921 - 1992)

American motion picture and television actor of the 1950s thru 1990s. Appeared in the 1991 Mel Brooks comedy “Life Stinks.” (bio by: A.J. Marik)

George Biddell Airy (1801 - 1892)

Airy was born at Alnwick, one of a long line of Airys who traced their descent back to a family of the same name residing at Kentmere, in Westmorland, in the 14th century. The branch to which he belonged, having suffered in the English Civil War, moved to Lincolnshire and became farmers. Airy was educated […]

George Birdwell (1894 - 1932)

George Birdwell’s first recorded robbery was on March 9, 1931, when he and Floyd joined William “Billy the Killer” Miller in robbing a bank in Earlsboro, Oklahoma, for $3,000. Five months later, they raided another bank in nearby Shamrock but managed to get only $400. They fared better several days later when they raided a […]

George Birkbeck (1776 - 1841)

Philanthropist, Educationalist. Born in Settle, Yorkshire, he became a became professor of natural philosophy at the Anderson’s College, Glasgow, in 1799. There he pioneered the first free classes for working-class men in mechanics and chemistry. In 1804, he became a physician in London and continued his interest in working class education. He founded the Mechanics’ […]

George Blackburn (1916 - 2006)

Author, Canadian World War II Veteran. Born in Wales, Ontario, Canada, he wrote the acclaimed three-part memoir “The Guns of Normandy: A Soldier’s Eye View, France 1944”, “The Guns of Victory” and “Where the Hell are the Guns?” which reflected on his experiences serving as a forward artillery observer during World War II. Blackburn received […]

George Boldt (1851 - 1916)

Businessman. As president of Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Company, he is the person most responsible for the modern American luxury hotel. He made the name synonymous with elegance.  Family links:  Spouse:  Louisa Augusta Kehrer Boldt (1860 – 1904)* *Calculated relationship

George Brent (1904 - 1979)

George Brent was born George Brendan Nolan in Ballinasloe, County Galway in 1904 to John J. and Mary (née McGuinness) Nolan. His mother was a native of Clonfad, County Westmeath. During the Irish War of Independence (1919–1922), Brent was part of the IRA. He fled Ireland with a bounty set on his head by the […]

George Bruggeman (1904 - 1967)

Actor. Known for athletic and strong-man roles in Hollywood movies, one of his earliest screen appearances was in Paramount’s 1928 silent film “Manhattan Cocktail” starring Nancy Carroll and Richard Arlen. During this time he was also a lifeguard at the Bel Air Bay Club (a private beach club for the wealthy,  located just north of […]

George Buchanan (1506 - 1582)

Scholar, poet, author, and humanist. Born in Stirlingshire, Scotland, one of eight children of a small farmer who died when George Buchanan was 7, leaving the family in poverty. George received a grammar school education before being sent by his uncle to study at the University of Paris when he was 14. Returning to Scotland, […]

George Buchanan Armstrong (1822 - 1871)

United States Postal Official. While serving as assistant Postmaster of Chicago, Illinois, he proposed to send mail via the railway as a means of faster delivery. In 1864 Postmaster General Montgomery Blair first experimented, then implemented this practice. It became the staple of long distance mail delivery before being outstripped by air freight shipping. George […]

George Burns (1896 - 1996)

George Burns Was an American comedian, award-winning actor and best-selling writer. George Burns was one of the few entertainers whose career successfully spanned vaudeville, film, radio, and television. His arched eyebrow and cigar-smoke punctuation became familiar trademarks for over three-quarters of a century. When Burns was 79, his career was resurrected as an amiable, beloved […]

George Burroughs (1970 - 1692)

Victim of the Salem Witch Trials. George was raised by his mother in the town of Roxbury. George Burroughs was the only Puritan minister indicted and executed in Salem in 1692. He served as minister of Salem Village from 1680 until he left in 1683. As one of the succession of three ministers who left […]

George Cadbury (1839 - 1922)

Businessman, Social Reformer. Cocoa and chocolate manufacturer and philanthropist, son of a Quaker grocer, Cadbury worked for a time in Joseph Rowntree’s grocery store. They both became world-wide competitors as chocolate manufacturers. In 1861, together with his brother, Richard, he took over the family buisness and in 1878, acquired land for a new factory three […]

George Caleb Bingham (1811 - 1879)

American painter of landscapes and realistic genre paintings, concerned with the effects of light. Work includes, “Fur Traders Descending the Missouri” (1845). (bio by: Bill Walker)  Family links:  Parents:  Mary J. Amend Bingham (1790 – 1851)  Spouses:  Sarah Bingham (1820 – 1849)*  Martha A. Livingston Bingham (1824 – 1890)*  Martha A Livingston Bingham (1824 – […]

George Calliga (1897 - 1976)

Actor. Romanian-born motion picture figure who appeared in films from the 1920s to the 1950s. Appeared with Errol Flynn in the 1957 drama “Istanbul.” (bio by: A.J. Marik)

George Carlin (1937 - 2008)

George Carlin Comedian. A provocative and influential standup performer, he is best known for his “Seven Dirty Words” routine which led to the 1978 United States Supreme Court case “F.C.C. v. Pacifica Foundation” that established the American government’s right to regulate profanity on the public airwaves. The decision also propelled his career forward. In general, […]

George Catlin (1796 - 1872)

Artist. He is best remembered for his portraits of Native Americans in the Old West and is the first person to visually record Plains Indians in their native territory. He grew up in Pennsylvania and spent many hours hunting, fishing, and looking for American Indian artifacts. His fascination with Native Americans was kindled by his […]

George Chandler (1898 - 1985)

George Chandler (June 30, 1898 – June 10, 1985) was an American actor best known for playing the character of “Uncle Petrie Martin” on the CBS television series, Lassie. He was born in Waukegan, Illinois on June 30, 1898. Chandler served in the United States Army during World War I. George Chandler appeared six times in Bill […]

George Chapman (1970 - 1634)

Poet, Playwright, Translator. He was the first to translate the works of Homer into English, beginning with his “Seven Books of the Iliad” in 1598. This was followed by the complete “Iliad” in 1611, the “Odyssey” in 1615, and “The Whole Works of Homer” in 1616. Chapman took liberties with the material that reflected his […]

George Charles Aid (1872 - 1938)

Artist. Born and raised in Quincy, Illinois. He received his primary art education at the St. Louis School of Fine Art. George worked as a staff artist for the St. Louis newspapers before moving to France in 1899. Once he arrived in France he began his studies at the Academie Julian in Paris with renowned […]

George Charles Scott “Boomer” (1944 - 2013)

Scott was born March 23, 1944, in Greenville, Mississippi, as the youngest of three children. His father, a cotton farm laborer, died when George Jr. was two years old, and young George was picking cotton by age nine. “That’s all we knew,” he said. “The reason you did that, all of that money was turned […]

George Chesebro (1888 - 1959)

Actor. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he was a prolific actor whom appeared in over 400 films between 1915 to 1954. Noted mostly for performances in westerns, he began his career debut in the silent era as a regular in the short reel series “Migon” (1915) and “Money” (1915). Among his many credits are, “Hands Up” […]

George Cisar (1912 - 1979)

Actor. Born in Cicero, Illinois, he played background parts such as policemen or bartenders, in over a hundred films and television shows. He made his motion picture debut in “Call Northside 777” (1948), followed by “Batman and Robin” (1949). His other film credits include “The Werewolf” (1956), “Nightfall” (1957), “Jet Attack” (1958), “The Big Circus” […]

George Clinton (1807 - 1885)

George Clinton was born on April 21, 1807 in New York City to Maria Franklin (1775-1818) and DeWitt Clinton (1769-1828), while the latter was serving as Mayor of New York City. His father later became a U.S. Senator and the 6th Governor of New York. He was the grandson of Major General James Clinton (1736-1812), […]