The Resume

(July 24, 1725-December 21, 1807)
Born in London, United Kingdom
Slave ship captain turned Anglican clergyman
Wrote many hymns, most notably 'Amazing Grace'
Inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame (1982)

Why he might be annoying:

He said that in his youth he was 'an infidel and libertine.'
He continued dealing in slaves even after his spiritual conversion.
He finally gave up the slave trade after suffering a stroke that left him unable to go out to sea (1755).
Between being a slave trader and a clergyman, he worked as a tax collector.

Why he might not be annoying:

While studying for the clergy, he taught himself Latin, Greek and Hebrew.
He was such a popular preacher that a gallery was added to his church to accommodate the crowds.
He wrote the pamphlet 'Thoughts Upon the Slave Trade' (1788) in which he described the horrific conditions on the slave ships and noted, 'It will always be a subject of humiliating reflection to me, that I was once an active instrument in a business at which my heart now shudders.'
He said, 'I am not the man I ought to be, I am not the man I wish to be, and I am not the man I hope to be, but by the grace of God, I am not the man I used to be.'

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Brothers and Sisters, I Have None
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 24]
• I am a Born-Again Christian
• I Had a Stroke [Cerebral Vascular Accident]
• I was Home Schooled
• Kid Rock References
• Look at My Book Cover
• People who Have Similar Names on Am I Annoying (Ranked: 872)
• People with John or Mary in their Names
• Powdered Wig Wearers
• Profiles 26751-27000 (Ranked: 26980)
• Seamen
• Slave Owners

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 15 Votes: 73.33% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 7 Votes: 85.71% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 40 Votes: 27.50% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 241 Votes: 44.81% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 14 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 13 Votes: 46.15% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 13 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 32 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying