Voting Station

James McGill

Please vote to return to collections.

Philanthropist

The Resume

    (October 6, 1744-December 19, 1813)
    Born in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
    Fur trader and land speculator in Canada
    In his will left £10,000 and 46 acres of land to found McGill University in Montreal

Why he might be annoying:

    Although he attended the University of Glasgow, he left without a degree.
    He owned slaves.
    Apparently taking no chances on the people of Montreal showing the proper degree of gratitude, he made naming the university after himself a condition of the bequest.

Why he might not be annoying:

    As a fur trapper, he spent nine years living off the land and travelling in unmapped wilderness.
    As a colonel in the Canadian militia, he played a leading role in the defense of Montreal during the War of 1812.
    He provided generously for two stepsons and the orphaned daughter of a friend.
    While serving in the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada, he helped establish the Royal Institute for the Advancement of Learning to establish a formal education system in the country.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 15 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying