Voting Station

Samuel Mudd

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Doctor

The Resume

    (December 20, 1833-January 10, 1883)
    Born in Charles County, Maryland
    Treated the broken leg of assassin John Wilkes Booth
    Imprisoned at Fort Jefferson for conspiracy (1865-69)
    Pardoned by President Andrew Johnson

Why he might be annoying:

    He shot one of his slaves in the thigh during a fit of anger.
    Early in the Civil War, he hid Confederate fugitives at his farm.
    He waited a day after Booth left before telling the authorities.
    He told soldiers that Booth had headed east when he really went south.
    Conspirator George Atzerodt wrote a confession in which he claimed Mudd was an active participant in plans to kidnap Abraham Lincoln.

Why he might not be annoying:

    When the prison doctor died during a yellow fever epidemic, he took over the position and helped stop the spread of the disease.
    Soldiers from Fort Jefferson petitioned President Johnson on his behalf, writing 'He inspired the hopeless with courage and by his constant presence in the midst of danger.'
    Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan expressed the opinion that he was innocent.
    Although he is sometimes said to have inspired the saying 'his name is mud,' the phrase was first used 10 years before his birth.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 18 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 30 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 37 Votes: 54.05% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 94 Votes: 62.77% Annoying