Other Famous Rhode Islanders

• George M. Cohan: Singer, dancer, producer, actor, playwright, and composer. He was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal for his work.
• Viola Davis: Award-winning stage and film actress.
• Esek Hopkins: First Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Navy.
• Stephen Hopkins: Former Governor and one of two Rhode Islanders to sign the Declaration of Independence.
• Anne Hutchinson: The first woman to establish a town in America - Portsmouth, Rhode Island.
• Nap Lajoie: American League's first batting champion and inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
• Oliver Hazard Perry: Hero of the Battle of Lake Erie (1813).
• Samuel Slater: Father of the American Textile Industry.
• Gilbert Stuart: Foremost painter of portraits of George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe. The State of Rhode Island possesses two historic paintings of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart. An earlier portrait by Stuart appears on the $1 dollar bill.