The Resume

(February 16, 1838-March 27, 1918)
Born in Boston, Massachusetts
Great-grandson of John Adams and grandson of John Quincy Adams
Professor of Medieval History at Harvard (1870-77)
Pseudonymously wrote the novels 'Democracy' (1880) and 'Esther' (1884)
Wrote the nine volume 'History of the United States of America, 1801 to 1817' (1889-91)
Wrote the autobiography 'The Education of Henry Adams' (published privately, 1907; published commercially, 1919)

Why he might be annoying:

He received the best education available, then complained it had been useless.
He retired from Harvard at age 39.
He was a pessimist.
His autobiography skipped over the years of his marriage.
He believed Jews controlled politics, the financial world and newspapers, and wrote, 'In a society of Jews and brokers, a world made up of maniacs wild for gold, I have no place.'

Why he might not be annoying:

He worked as a journalist, writing several pieces exposing political corruption.
At Harvard, he introduced the first graduate studies program in history.
His wife, Clover, committed suicide (1885).
'The Education of Henry Adams' was named best non-fiction work of the 20th century by Modern Library.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 11]
• Historians
• I am a New Englander
• I am an Anti-Semite
• I Attended Harvard
• I Died in 1918 (Ranked: 80)
• I Had a Stroke [Cerebral Vascular Accident]
• In Town for The World's Fair at the Columbian Exposition [1893-Chicago]
• Look at Me and My Pet
• Modern Library's 100 Best Non-Fiction Books of the 20th Century (Ranked: 1)
• Profiles 22751-23000 (Ranked: 22848)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 16 Votes: 31.25% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 19 Votes: 63.16% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 13 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 13 Votes: 38.46% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 13 Votes: 69.23% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 24 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 18 Votes: 38.89% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 23 Votes: 69.57% Annoying