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Father Louis Hennepin

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The Resume

    (May 12, 1626-1705)
    Birth name is Antoine Hennepin
    Récollet friar (1643)
    Chaplain of the French army (1672-1675)
    Missionary in New France (1675-1678)
    Member of Mississippi River explorer Robert La Salle’s party (1678-1680)
    First explorer of the upper reaches of the Mississippi (1680)
    Wrote 'Description de la Louisiane (1682),' 'Nouveau Voyage (1696)' and 'Nouvelle Découverte (1697)'

Why he might be annoying:

    He became a monk underage: his father had lied under oath about his son's date of birth.
    After the death of La Salle, who discovered the mouth of the Mississippi, he claimed the discovery.
    He wrote he had remained silent until then 'not to cause La Salle grief.'
    He also implied that he feared for his life: La Salle 'sacrificed' those who opposed his 'secret designs.'
    If telling the truth, he would have travelled the Mississippi up and down in thirty days, which is ridiculous.
    Depending on which way the wind was blowing, he served either the French or the English.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He spent several months prisoner of the Sioux, but actually got along with them quite well.
    He discovered Saint Anthony Falls (in modern-day Minneapolis), and named them after his patron saint.
    He wrote the first description of Niagara Falls.
    In Minnesota, his name was given to a county, park, avenue and 1,037-foot bridge.
    To some Minnesotans, he is something of a folk hero.
    The annual Father Hennepin Festival, with its river crossing ceremony (and fireworks!), saves Champlin, Minnesota, from total insignificance.

Credit: Sviatoslav Mixer


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 17 Votes: 58.82% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 31 Votes: 61.29% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 19 Votes: 73.68% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 28 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 66 Votes: 69.70% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 107 Votes: 67.29% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 77 Votes: 46.75% Annoying