Voting Station

Samuel A. Insull

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Entrepreneur

The Resume

    (November 11, 1859-July 16, 1938)
    Immigrated to serve as Thomas Edison's private secretary (1888)
    Acquired some small electric utilities north of Chicago and consolidated into Public Service Co. of Northern Illinois
    Acquired more midwestern utility companies and consolidated into Midland Utilities System (collapsed 1932)
    Died on a Paris subway platform (1938)

Why he might be annoying:

    He made his employees peddle the company stock.
    He used Pittman shorthand, and required his inner employees understand it.
    He regarded any gifts as unworthy.
    The Insull Building in Chicago (now the Lyric Opera House) was nicknamed 'Insull's Throne.'
    He was indicted for defrauding shareholders, and fled to Turkey to evade justice.
    However, he was deported to Greece and then returned to America for trial.
    He was acquitted after two hung juries, but his character was inpugned.
    He was found dead in Paris, with about 75¢ on him (He was worth $5 million, ten years earlier).
    His manipulation of utility companies, caused congress to pass acts breaking up huge utility companies.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He successfully demonstrated central-station electric power at lower cost.
    He encouraged utility customers to invest in the companies they used.
    He turned failing utility companies in to profit makers.

Credit: Iludium Phosdex


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 21 Votes: 52.38% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 13 Votes: 38.46% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 27 Votes: 59.26% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 21 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 34 Votes: 44.12% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 96 Votes: 44.79% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 167 Votes: 43.11% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 277 Votes: 42.24% Annoying
    In 2004, Out of 425 Votes: 41.18% Annoying
    In 2003, Out of 494 Votes: 67.81% Annoying
    In 2002, Out of 963 Votes: 70.92% Annoying