Voting Station

Catherine O'Leary

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Scapegoat

The Resume

    ( -July 3, 1895)
    Mrs. O'Leary's cow was blamed for starting the Chicago Fire (October 8, 1871)

Why she might be annoying:

    The great fire of Chicago originated in her barn.
    The Chicago Fire Department never found the cause of the blaze.

Why she might not be annoying:

    Michael Aherns wrote in the Chicago Evening Journal that Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicked over a gas lamp causing the great Chicago fire.
    Years later he admitted he made the story up.
    She and her cow were exonerated, 125 years later (1997).

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 17 Votes: 5.88% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 17 Votes: 35.29% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 7 Votes: 14.29% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 9 Votes: 11.11% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 21 Votes: 47.62% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 12 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 18 Votes: 77.78% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 75 Votes: 49.33% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 30 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 37 Votes: 45.95% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 86 Votes: 47.67% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 101 Votes: 46.53% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 211 Votes: 47.39% Annoying
    In 2004, Out of 313 Votes: 43.77% Annoying
    In 2003, Out of 605 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2002, Out of 1667 Votes: 51.05% Annoying
    In 2001, Out of 3597 Votes: 49.51% Annoying