This week’s featured Washingtonian is Al Gore. 

Al Gore served the United States as vice president from 1992-2000, and he's known for being a huge activist when it comes to preserving the environment. Of course, you know he’s spent a significant time in Washington. But did you know that this famous politician and environmentalist was born and actually grew up in Washington, D.C?

Born on March 31, 1948, Gore was the youngest child in his family. He spent his childhood in the city, and it was only after he went off to attend Harvard University that he left (though he would soon come back for political reasons). Leading up to Harvard, Gore attended St. Albans School, which gave him a college preparatory education, contributing to his acceptance into the Ivy League. 

His family actually lived in The Fairfax Hotel on Embassy Row (it's called that due to the large number of embassies that line the street) during his youth, which was (and still is) quite an affluent and international community. 

Courtesy of mashable.com

Gore actually met his (then) wife Tipper in Washington, D.C. She attended the equivalent girls' school, and they met at senior prom. They were married at the Washington National Cathedral in May of 1970. They had four children.

In 1977, Gore began serving in the U.S. Congress as a representative from Tennessee, where he had made a home while attending law school at Vanderbilt. His 16-year stint in the House and Senate brought him back to his hometown of D.C. and kept him here for quite some time. He became Bill Clinton's vice president in 1992 and served along with him for two terms. He then ran for president in 2000 but was defeated by George W. Bush.

A winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007, Gore has made climate change his key concern over the course of his career. 

Did you know that Al Gore grew up in Washington, D.C.? What other famous Washingtonian are you interested in learning more about? Let us know in the comments below, and we may feature them in the coming weeks!

You know who else is from D.C.? Bill Nye, the Science Guy! No kidding. Read his story here.