The Resume

(December 17, 1807-September 7, 1892)
Born in Haverhill, Massachusetts
Edited 'The National Philanthropist,' 'New England Weekly Review,' 'The Pennsylvania Freeman' and 'The National Era'
Founding contributor to 'Atlantic Monthly' (1857)
Best known poems were 'Barbara Frietchie' (1864) and 'Snow Bound' (1866)
Namesake of Whittier, California

Why he might be annoying:

After an unsuccessful campaign for US Congress, he suffered a nervous breakdown (1832).
He considered Walt Whitman's 'Leaves of Grass' obscene and threw his copy into a fire.
Encyclopedia Britannica noted that his poems were 'often marred by sentimentality, poor technique, or excessive preaching.'
Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote, 'Whittier's book is poor stuff! I like the man, but have no high opinion either of his poetry or his prose.'

Why he might not be annoying:

He was an ardent abolitionist who was attacked by a pro-slavery mob (1835).
He helped organize the Republican Party in Massachusetts and convinced abolitionist Charles Sumner to run for US Senate.
Several of his poems were set to music to become Quaker hymns.
His 70th birthday was attended by most of the leading literary figures of 19th-century America, including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wordsworth Longfellow, Mark Twain, Oliver Wendell Holmes and James Russell Lowell.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• 19th Century Poets
• A City is Named in My Honor
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 57]
• Hall of Fame for Great Americans (Ranked: 1905)
• I am a Quaker
• I am Color Blind
• I am on a U.S. Postage Stamp [U-Z]
• I Had a Nervous Breakdown
• I Sought Political Office
• Look at Me, I'm Postage
• Newspaper Journalists/Editors/Publishers
• People with John or Mary in their Names
• Poets
• Profiles 36501-36750 (Ranked: 36622)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 70.0% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying