Voting Station

Titus Oates

Please vote to return to collections.

Religious Figure

The Resume

    (September 15, 1649-July 13, 1705)
    Born in Oakham, United Kingdom

Why he might be annoying:

    He was kicked out of numerous seminaries and religious orders.
    He was the Joseph McCarthy of his day.
    He claimed that there was a massive Catholic conspiracy to assassinate King Charles II, put his brother James on the throne, and massacre Protestants.
    He gave the names of over 80 people who were supposedly in on this conspiracy, including Jesuits, bishops, the queen's physician, and the author Samuel Pepys.
    His witch hunt triggered a national anti-Catholic hysteria.
    He had innocent people executed for treason.
    King James II had him arrested for perjury, pilloried, flogged, and imprisoned for life.
    As he was pilloried, people threw eggs at him.
    BBC's History Magazine listed him among the 10 worst Britons in history.
    A historian said he 'was in a league of his own in the depths of his vileness.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was somehow able to dupe a lot of people for a long period of time.
    He was released from prison after only three years.
    He thankfully was never restored to his previous position of influence and died in obscurity.

Credit: The Truffle


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 8 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 15 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 14 Votes: 64.29% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 52 Votes: 78.85% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 21 Votes: 80.95% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 39 Votes: 71.79% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 65 Votes: 72.31% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 37 Votes: 72.97% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 105 Votes: 78.10% Annoying