Birthplace: Marion County, Indiana

Ted Stevens, a Republican Senator from Alaska, was born on Nov. 18, 1923, in Marion County, Indiana. Until he lost his reelection bid in 2008, he was the country's longest-serving senator. He entered politics before Alaska statehood. In Oct. 2008, Stevens was found guilty of seven felony charges for lying on financial disclosure forms and failing to report more than $250,000 in gifts from an Alaskan oil field services company. Despite the federal corruption charges against him, Stevens ran for reelection in Nov. 2008.

He was a popular figure in Alaska, once named "Alaskan of the century," who consistently brought in the highest number of government dollars per capita in the U.S.—more than $9 billion in 2006 alone. In the end, however, 85-year-old Stevens lost the 2008 election to Democrat Mark Begich 46.76% to 47.56%.

Stevens was killed in a plane crash in the mountains of southwest Alaska in August 2010.