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Lawrence Oates

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The Resume

    (March 17, 1880-March 16, 1912)
    Born in London, United Kingdom
    Member of Robert F. Scott's polar expedition
    Committed suicide by walking into a blizzard

Why he might be annoying:

    He was accepted to the expedition partly for his willingness to contribute 1,000 pounds towards the costs.
    He clashed repeatedly with Scott and wrote in his diary, 'I dislike Scott intently and would chuck the whole thing if it were not that we are a British expedition.'
    His self-sacrifice was in vain as the other members of the expedition died less than two weeks later.
    His body was never found

Why he might not be annoying:

    During the Boer War, he suffered a bullet wound that left his left leg an inch shorter when it eventually healed.
    During the trip back from the pole, he suffered frostbite, scurvy and the re-opening of his war wound.
    He urged his companions to leave him behind in his sleeping bag since he was slowing them down.
    The next day, with his condition continuing to worsen, he left the tent, telling the others, 'I am just going outside and may be some time.'
    Scott wrote in his diary, 'We knew it was the act of a brave man and an English gentleman.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 17 Votes: 47.06% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 21 Votes: 47.62% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 82 Votes: 60.98% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 13 Votes: 46.15% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 22 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 13 Votes: 46.15% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 100 Votes: 40.0% Annoying