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George Westinghouse

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Inventor

The Resume

    (October 6, 1846-March 12, 1914)
    Born in Central Bridge, New York
    Invented the railroad air brake (1869)
    Founded Westinghouse Electric (1886)
    Held 361 patents

Why he might be annoying:

    He dropped out of college after three months.
    While inventing regulators for natural gas, he drilled a gas well in his backyard, creating a hundred-foot high flame for several weeks.
    He feuded with Thomas Edison during the 'War of the Currents' (Eidson favored direct current; Westinghouse promoted alternating current).
    During his tenure, Westinghouse Electric twice underwent bankruptcy reorganization, the second one ending with his ouster as chairman (1909).
    He tried to invent a heat pump that would produce enough energy to power itself, and kept at it even after scientists pointed out he was trying to build a perpetual motion machine that would violate the laws of thermodynamics.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He served in both the Army and Navy during the Civil War.
    By greatly reducing the distance needed to stop a train, his air brake made high-speed rail travel practical.
    His AC system was far more efficient than Edison's DC system and quickly became the standard.
    Over a 49-year period, he averaged an invention every seven weeks.
    He was happily married to Marguerite Walker for 47 years until his death.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 14 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 14 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 22 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 10 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 82 Votes: 51.22% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 16 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 23 Votes: 34.78% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 61 Votes: 36.07% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 35 Votes: 40.0% Annoying