Famous Lexingtonians

Mary E. Britton, 1855-1925

Claim to Fame: Lexington's first female physician, educator

William Wells Brown, 1814-1884

Claim to Fame: first African-American novelist and published playwrite in the U.S.

Peter "Old Captain" Duerett, 1733-1823

Claim to Fame:

London Ferrill, 1789-1854

Claim to Fame:

William H. Fouse

Claim to Fame:

Mr. Fouse was a regionally recognized educator and the first principal of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. He served as principal of this important community institution from 1922-1938.

Isaac Scott Hathaway, 1872-1967

Claim to Fame: sculptor

James "Sweet Evening Breeze" Herndon

Claim to Fame:

"Sweets" was a much beloved local person who was gender-bending long before David Bowie or Ru Paul.

John E. Hunter, -1956

Claim to Fame: Physician, President of the National Medical Association

Eliza Belle Jackson, 1848-1942

Claim to Fame: Educator

Isaac Lewis

Claim to Fame: Jockey, KY Derby winner on Montrose (1887)

Bourbon County native

Garrett A. Morgan, 1877-1963

Claim to Fame: inventor of the traffic light and gas mask

Born in Paris, KY.

Isaac Burns "Ike" Murphy, 1861-1896

Claim to Fame: Most winning jockey in thoroughbred racing history

James "Soup" Perkins

Claim to Fame: Jockey, KY Derby winner on Halma (1895)

William Walker

Claim to Fame: Jockey, KY Derby winner on Baden-Baden (1877), trainer and horse breeder

Born in Versailles.

T. T. Wendell

Claim to Fame: Physician