The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Elgin, Illinois. For a similar list organized alphabetically by last name, see the category page People from Elgin, Illinois.
Authors and academics
E.C. "Mike" Alft, historian, author, and former mayor of Elgin
Nina Burleigh, journalist and author
Paul Flory, chemist; Nobel Prize winner (1974) Lloyd Hall, chemist Donella Meadows, environmentalist Jessica Mink, astronomer; co-discover of the rings around the planet Uranus John Platt, computer scientist Tom Shales, journalist; Pulitzer Prize winner (1988) Carleton Washburne, educator; author Dwight Smith Young, physicist with the Manhattan Project
Business and invention
Max Adler, vice-president of Sears & Roebuck; benefactor of Adler Planetarium
Lawrence B. Hamlin, Hamlin's Wizard Oil purveyor
Lysander Hamlin, co-originator with John Austen Hamlin of Hamlin's Wizard Oil
Earl "Madman" Muntz, marketer, car stereo and 4-track cartridge pioneer
James Roche, chairman of General Motors
James P. Liautaud, industrialist, inventor and business theorist
Media and arts
Dan Andriano, musician
BarlowGirl, Christian rock band
Joe Becker, musician
Bruce Boxleitner, actor
Josh Caterer, songwriter, musician, singer
Daniel de Marbelle, songwriter who wrote When They Ring Those Golden Bells
Citizen Way, Christian rock band
Jim Gaffigan, comedian, actor, and author
Mitzi Gaynor, actress and entertainer, lived in Elgin
George Hamlin, opera singer and son of John Austin Hamlin
John Austin Hamlin, magician
Matt Hoffman, contestant on Big Brother 12
Charles Ingalls, father of Laura Ingalls Wilder (Little House on the Prairie); spent part of his childhood in the nearby Campton Township Laurence Kaptain, recording artist; Dean at the College of Music and Dramatic Arts, Louisiana State University William LeBaron, playwright and movie producer Kevin Martin, musician Norman Mayell, musician (Sopwith Camel, Blue Cheer, Norman Greenbaum) Paleo, born David Strackany, folk singer-songwriter Jane Peterson, painter and artist John Qualen, actor Courtney Reed, stage actress, original Princess Jasmine in Aladdin on Broadway Marie Sidenius Zendt, singer
Military
Harry Chamberlin, U.S. Army brigadier general and Olympic medalist in equestrian events
Politics and law
Ray Barnhart, Texas State Representative
Robert L. Bergman (1948-2013), Illinois State Representative
DeGoy B. Ellis (1876-1949), Illinois state representative and lawyer
Thomas W. Ferry (1843-1845) Acting Vice President, US Senator
Peter Fitzgerald, US senator (R-IL) Barbara Giolitto, Illinois State Representative Adam Neylon, Wisconsin legislator Jeanette Ward, member of the Wyoming House of Representatives. She lived in Elgin until moving to Casper, Wyoming in 2021.