Roy Bean (1825–1903), Eccentric Old West justice of the peace, Born in Mason County
Stephen Bishop (1780–1857), Cave explorer and guide, enslaved person, Published the first map of Mammoth Cave
Daniel Boone (1734–1820), Iconic explorer and trapper, first entered Kentucky on hunting expeditions in 1767, carved Wilderness Trail which was used for the first western expansion; established his fort, Boonesborough, in Madison
County. Buried in Frankfort.
Jim Bowie (1796–1836), Died at the Battle of the Alamo, made famous the Bowie knife, Born in Logan County
Creed Burlingame (1905–1985), U.S. Navy submarine commander in the Pacific Theater during World War II, Born in Louisville
Kit Carson (1809–1868), Indian agent, trapper scout, Born in Madison County
Floyd Collins (1887–1925), Cave explorer, Trapped and killed in Sand Cave
William J. Crowe Jr. (1925–2007), U.S. Navy admiral and chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, Born in La Grange
William R. Higgins (1945–1990), U.S. Marine colonel who was captured in 1988 and eventually murdered, Born in Danville
Joseph Holt (1807–1894), United States Postmaster General and Judge Advocate General, Born in Breckinridge County
Husband E. Kimmel (1882–1968), Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Born in Henderson
Hal Moore (1922–2017), US Army lieutenant general and author, Born in Bardstown
Franklin Sousley (1925–1945), One of six in iconic photograph Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima, Born in Hilltop, Fleming County
Brig. Gen. Charles Young (1864-1922) He was the third African American graduate of the United States Military Academy, the first Black U.S. national park superintendent, first Black military attaché, first Black man to achieve
the rank of colonel in the United States Army, and highest-ranking Black officer in the Regular Army until his death in 1922. In 2022, in recognition of his exemplary service and the barriers he faced due to racism, he was posthumously promoted
to brigadier general.