SOME FAMOUS UNITARIANS AND UNIVERSALISTS IN HISTORY

Our heritage is rich with Unitarians and Universalists who followed the UU approach of free though, of acting on our principles, and of in so doing, making the world a better place for everyone.   Here is a sampling of some of the founding fathers, artists, authors, humanitarians and scientists who either attended a Unitarian or Universalist congregation regularly, were members or ministers of a congregation, or identified themselves in public or private statements as Unitarians and Universalists.  

U.S. FOUNDING FATHERS
John Adams -- American Patriot, First Vice-President of the U.S., Second President of the United States
John Quincy Adams -- Secretary of State, Sixth President of the U.S.
Ethan Allen -- Frontiersman, scholar, statesman.   Quotes about Traditional Religion.
Benjamin Franklin -- American Patriot, Great Statesman, thinker and scientist. Quotes about Traditional Religion
Thomas Jefferson -- Great statesman, Author of the "Declaration of Independence", Third president of the U.S. Quotes about Traditional Religion.
James Madison -- Primary author of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, Fourth president of the U.S. Quotes about Religion
Thomas Paine -- American Patriot, his book "Common Sense" inspired the American Revolution.  Quotes about Traditional Religion.
Paul Revere - Patriot, Master Silversmith

ARTISTS & AUTHORS
Louisa May Alcott -- Author & Poet best known for "Little Women", Worked for women's right to vote.
Charles Dickens -- Author, Social Justice Advocate. Personal Thoughts About Religion
Ralph Waldo Emerson -- A Unitarian Minister and an American Author, Poet and Philosopher
Robert Fulghum -- Author, Former Unitarian Universalist Minister
Nathaniel Hawthorne -- Renowned American author, wrote "The Scarlet Letter" and "The House of Seven Gables"
Oliver Wendell Holmes -- Champion of Justice in the U.S. Supreme Court
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow -- Popular American Poet
Herman Melville -- Author, explored metaphysical themes, best known for "Moby Dick"
Carl Sandberg -- Author and Poet
Henry David Thoreau -- Writer, Poet, Observer of Nature  Quotes
Daniel Webster -- Famous orator and Statesman
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. -- Contemporary American Writer
Frank Lloyd Wright -- World Famous Designer of Buildings



HUMANITARIANS
Susan B. Anthony -- Activist in the antislavery movement, advocate for women's right to vote.  Born a Quaker, member of Unitarian congregation for 40 years.
Clara Barton -- Founder of the American Red Cross.
Dorthea Dix -- 19th Century Pioneer in the rights of the mentally ill. 123 hospitals were build because of her work and influence.
Florence Nightingale -- Nurse, hospital reformer, humanitarian
Horace Mann -- Pioneer in public education for all Americans
Albert Schweitzer -- Humanitarian, Theologian, Missionary, Organist, Environmentalist and Medical Doctor.  Became a member of the Church of the Larger Fellowship, a Unitarian church by mail for those who do not live near a Unitarian church.
Robert Gould Shaw -- Fought for Abolition of Slavery, Profiled in the Movie "Glory"



SCIENCE AND MEDICINE
Alexander Graham Bell -- Worked to Help Deaf People Hear, Invented the Telephone, Founded "National Geographic" Magazine.
Charles Darwin -- Naturalist, Father of Principles of Natural Selection
Samuel Morse -- Well known artist and Inventor of the Telegraph
Isaac Newton -- Mathematician, scientist, philosopher, preacher, created rules of scientific method and theory of gravity.
Linus Pauling -- Chemist, Activist, Winner of Nobel Peace Prize

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