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Matthew Hopkins

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Witch Hunter

The Resume

    (circa 1620-August 1647)
    Born in Grantham, England, United Kingdom
    Self-proclaimed Witchfinder General
    Conducted witch hunts in Sussex, Essex and Norfolk (1644-47)
    Wrote 'The Discovery of Witches' (1647)

Why he might be annoying:

    He falsely claimed he had been authorized by Parliament to hunt witches.
    He used sleep deprivation, forcing the accused to walk up and down their cells until their feet blistered and other 'aggressive interrogation' techniques to extract confessions.
    He tended to pick on already unpopular outcasts for his victims.
    He was responsible for the execution of 200-400 people.
    Folklore claimed he was himself accused of witchcraft and executed, but most historians think he died in bed from tuberculosis.
    Montague Summers wrote, 'His reign of terror has caused his name to stink in the nostrils of all decent persons ever since.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He found a lucrative career, earning five pounds for each witch caught at a time when the average daily wage was six pence.
    He was satirized in Samuel Butler's poem 'Hubridas.'
    He was portrayed by Vincent Price in the cult horror film 'Witchfinder General.'

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 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 6 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 90.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 10 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 21 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 18 Votes: 61.11% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 25 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 21 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 16 Votes: 81.25% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 22 Votes: 81.82% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 94 Votes: 71.28% Annoying