The Resume

(May 9, 1860-August 6, 1890)
Resident of Buffalo, New York
First person executed in the electric chair

Why he might be annoying:

He was an alcoholic.
He murdered his common-law wife Tillie with a hatchet.
His appeal was financed by George Westinghouse, who feared the execution would give his alternating-current generators a bad name.

Why he might not be annoying:

He was a pawn in the 'War of the Currents' between Westinghouse and Thomas Edison.
Before the execution, he told the warden, 'Take it easy and do it properly. I'm in no hurry.'
The first jolt of electricity failed to kill him.
The current was then applied for so long that he caught fire.
Westinghouse commented about the execution, 'They could have done better with an ax.'

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 11]
• Criminals
• Executed by the State
• Historical Figures in ‘House of Wax’ [1953]
• I Caught on Fire
• I Died for My Sins
• I Died in My 30s (Ranked: 30)
• I Murdered My Spouse
• Look at Me, I'm Dead
• Profiles 22751-23000 (Ranked: 22917)

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 19 Votes: 52.63% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 12 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 6 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 16 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 33 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 18 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 24 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 15 Votes: 73.33% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 108 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 51 Votes: 74.51% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 49 Votes: 77.55% Annoying