My dear friend lowcarbjc,
There have been many notable Inventors and men of the arts that were Masons. To name just a few Brothers, there was: Benjamin Franklin (scientist/ writer/ entrepreneur/ politician), Buzz Aldrin, Jim Irwin, John Glenn (American astronauts/ pilot/ scientist), Wolfgang Mozart (musician/ composer), John Molson (founder of Molson Brewery corp.), Sir William S Gilbert (English poet and play write, partner of Sir Arthur Sullivan.), King C. Gillette ( American manufacturer and inventor of the safety razor.), Irving Berlin (American songwriter and composer), Sir Alexander Flemming (discovered penicillin, thus leading to the new pharmaceutical industry.).
S. African famous Masons:
Anton Anreith (sculptor and art teacher.), John Chisholm (civil engineer), Ernest Charles Chubb ( ornithologist, natural historian and museums pioneer), Charles Edwardes Lewis (a classical scholar and educationist.).
I don't claim to be any sort of expert regarding these matters, however, Masonic History shows men from all facets of life have been Masons. If you want to see an impressive list of famous Masons, you can visit multiple sites for yourself. I recommend:
famous masons.com,
or,
http://www.masonicinfo.com/famous.htm.
I wish you the best of luck in your journey, and hope you find what it is you're looking for.
Let me leave you with a parting thought...
After each Brother has been made a Master Mason in my Lodge, I ask them if they have any regrets? Without exception the answer given is, they wished they hadn't waited so long to join the Brotherhood. Which goes for yours truly, I wished I hadn't waited until I was 42 before finally making the choice that would give me much needed spiritual direction in my life.
Yours in His service.
W:. R. Corcoran, 32•
Presiding Worshipful Master-
Inglis Lodge 324 / Memorial Lodge 915
Florida, USA