Masonic History

Famous Masons

There are hundreds of masons who have been put in history books because of their accomplishments. Below are just a few which you may not have known were masons.

Abbott, William "Bud" - Famous half of the Abbott & Costello comedy team.

Arnold, General Henry "Hap" - Medal of Honor recipient and American general whose efforts helped establish what is now the U.S. Air Force. Commander, Army Air Force in World War II.

Basie, William "Count" - Orchestra leader/composer

Beard, Daniel Carter - American writer and illustrator. In 1905, he founded the Sons of Daniel Boone which in 1910 became the first Boy Scout organization in the US.

Bellamy, Francis J. - The Baptist Minister who created America's Pledge of Allegiance

Blanc, Mel - If you've heard cartoon characters Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Barney Rubble of the Flintstones, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Sylvester the cat or others, you've heard the voice this 50+ year Mason who brought so much pleasure to so many children for so many years.

Bond, Shadrach - First Grand Master of Freemasons and first Governor of Illinois

Butterfield, Daniel - Major General in the Civil War Union Army; holder of the Congressional Medal of Honor but known especially for his writing of America's best known bugle call, "Taps"

Carson, Christopher "Kit" - Frontiersman, scout and explorer

Clark, Roy - Country-Western star and singer; member of the Grand Ole Opry

Clemens, Samuel L. - Mark Twain - Writer and humorist. His famous works include the characters of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.

Crockett, David ('Davy') - Frontiersman and politician. US Representative from Tennessee who joined the Texas revolutionaries fighting against. Mexico. He died at the siege of the Alamo.

DeMille, Cecil B. - Film director. DeMille directed the first Hollywood film, The Squaw Man, in 1914. DeMille became the creative genius behind Paramount Pictures and was integral to Hollywood's development as the film capitol of the world. Two of his greatest film successes were The Ten Commandments (1923, remade 1956) and The Greatest Show on Earth(1952).

Dixon, Lt. George - Commander of the ill-fated submarine Hunley during the US Civil War. Lt. Hunley's love of Freemasonry was shown by the artifacts recovered when the Hunley was found.

Evans, Bob - Famous restaurateur, his eateries are found throughout the United States.

Fleming, Sir Alexander - British bacteriologist who discovered penicillin in 1928. He shared a 1945 Nobel Prize for this achievement.

Gatling, Richard J. - Inventor of the famous "Gatling Gun".

Gillette, King C. - American inventor and manufacturer who developed the safety razor and founded the Gillette Safety Razor Co.

Gowdy, Curtis E. "Curt" - National television and radio sports announcer and commentator, well known as the 'voice' of the Boston Red Sox. President of the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Graham, Albert Belmont - Father of the 4-H Rural Youth Program.

Hardy, Oliver - American comedian, famous for the slapstick abuse he inflicted upon his partner, Stan Laurel.

Henry, Patrick - American colonial patriot, member of the Continental Congress, he spurred the creation of the Virginia militia with the famous words "Give me liberty or give me death". Later served as the Governor of Virginia

Hoover, Frank - A brand of vacuum cleaners is named after him.

Houdini, Harry (Ehrich Weiss) - Premiere American magician known for his escapes from chains, handcuffs, straitjackets and padlocked containers, he was immensely proud of his Masonic affiliations and became a Shriner just before his untimely death.

Jackson, Reverend Jesse - Baptist Minister, American civil rights leader and politician. His concerns for the oppressed and his dramatic oratory have attracted a large grassroots constituency called the Rainbow Coalition.

Jolson, Al - American vaudeville and film performer, whose trademark became minstrel-style singing in blackface makeup. He starred in 'The Jazz Singer', the first important motion 'talking' picture with synchronized sound.

Jones, John Paul - Scottish born seaman, he became a naval hero and 'Father of the U. S. Navy'. He later commanded Russian naval ships in their war against the Ottoman empire.

Kamehameha (s), King (III, IV, and V) - all of whom were Monarchs of the Hawaiian Kingdom

Macy, Rowland Hussey - Owner of a small dry goods store in Haverhill, Massachusetts, he was the founder of R. H. Macy & Company, New York City.

Massey, Hart - Massey-Ferguson farm equipment

Nicholas, Samuel - First American Marine Corps officer, he was also considered the first Commandant of the Marines. He owned the Tun Tavern which the Corps considers their birthplace and which was also the meeting place of the first lodge in Pennsylvania.

O'Bannon, Pressley Neville - As a U.S. Marine Lieutenant and Mason, he placed the first 'Stars & Stripes' on foreign soil in defense of US national interests. His heroic achievement was the basis for the line in the Marine Corps hymn, "...to the shores of Tripoli."

Putnam, Israel - One of four Major Generals at the start of the Revolutionary War, he was the only one to serve throughout. He is remembered for his order to his troops at the Battle of Bunker Hill: "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes." His son joined Freemasonry as well.

Rickenbacker, Eddie - American aviator who was the most decorated combat pilot of World War I and later became president of Eastern Airlines.

Rickey, Branch - US baseball executive most remembered as the General Manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, he created the 'farm system' for developing players and he hired Jackie Robinson to break the 'color line' in baseball.

Ringling Brothers - All 7 of these famous Circus brothers and their father were Masons.

Rusk, John W. - Gained national prominence as "Uncle Sam", he was a regular fixture in any event involving the Nation's Capitol in his striped pants, top hat and stilts.

Salten, Felix- Creator of Bambi

Sanders, Colonel Harland - Fried chicken magnate, his Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets are found world-wide. He perfected his Original Recipe of 11 secret herbs and spices in 1939. When he died in 1980, his body laid in state in the Rotunda of the Kentucky State Capital.

Sexson, William Mark - Ordained Minister and, in 1922, founded the Order of Rainbow for Girls

Smith, Joseph - Founder of the Mormon Church.

Stotz, Carl E. - One of the three founders of Little League Baseball, it has has grown into the world's largest organized youth program.

Stratton, Charles - 'General Tom Thumb' - American entertainer and circus performer, he reached 3 feet 4 inches in height at maturity.

Temple, Lewis - Noted Black Abolitionist whose basement served as a way station on the 'Underground Railroad'.

Thomas, Dave - Founder of the very popular Wendy's Restaurants, publicly he was the grandfatherly star of commercials. Both privately and publicly, however, he did extensive work promoting the cause of orphans, something he had been in his own youth. The hamburgers at Wendy's are square as a reminder of Dave's motto: "Never cut corners." Dave was active in the Scottish Rite Philanthropies including their Children's Hospital program. His mentor in the restaurant business was another Mason, Col. Harland Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame.

Wadlow, Robert Pershing - Tallest human on record being almost 9 feet tall, Wadlow was proud of his early acceptance by DeMolay and from his activities there, determined to be a Mason also. Looked at by many as a 'freak', DeMolay and Masonry helped Wadlow maintain a sense of normalcy for which he and his parents were extremely grateful. The US's Public Broadcasting System has produced a documentary which places great emphasis on Brother Wadlow's Masonic affiliations and includes many pictures of him as a DeMolay officer.

Washington, Booker T - Educator and author

Young, Brigham - Led the pioneers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Mormons) to Utah.

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