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Thornton W. Burgess

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Author

The Resume

    (January 14, 1874-June 5, 1965)
    Born in Sandwich, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
    Writings include ‘Old Mother West Wind,’ ‘The Adventures of Peter Cottontail,’ ‘My Own Bed Time Story,’ ‘Busy Folks and Sleepy Folks,’ ‘The Adventures of Paddy the Beaver,’ ‘Happy Jack,’ ‘Old Granny Fox,’ ‘Lightfoot the Deer,’ ‘Buster Bear’s Twins,’ ‘Little Joe Otter,’ ‘Grandfather Frog Gets a Ride,’ ‘Birds You Should Know,’ ‘The Feast at Big Rock,’ ‘Aunt Sally’s Friends in Fur,’ ‘50 Favorite Burgess Stories,’ ‘The Burgess Book of Nature Lore’ and ‘Now I Remember: Autobiography of an Amateur Naturalist’
    Conservation programs include the Green Meadow Club (land), Bedtime Stories Club (wildlife) and Happy Jack Squirrel Savings Club (war stamps and bonds)
    Namesake of the Thornton W. Burgess Society (Green Briar Nature Center, Thornton Burgess Museum, Green Briar Jam Kitchen, East Sandwich Game Farm, 1976)

Why he might be annoying:

    His middle name? Waldo.
    His father died when he was a mere infant.
    Peter Cottontail was inspired by Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit.
    The society in his name operates a kitchen dedicated to the making of preserves.
    His son Thornton III died abruptly the year before his own death.

Why he might not be annoying:

    His good friend Harrison Cady was the main illustrator of his works.
    He survived both of his wives (the first died in 1906 and the other in 1950).
    He had a radio program, the Radio Nature League, and a syndicated daily newspaper column, Bedtime Stories — the latter of which he had written for 48 consecutive years!
    He had some 170 books and 15,000 columns to his name.
    Upon his death, his home was purchased and subsequently established as a wildlife sanctuary by the Massachusetts Audubon Society.

Credit: Cool It All Right?


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 13 Votes: 69.23% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 8 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 18 Votes: 61.11% Annoying