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Charles Vance Millar

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Attorney

The Resume

    (1853-October 31, 1926)
    Born in Aylmer, Ontario, Canada
    Owner of the British Columbia Express Company
    Known for his eccentric last will and testament
    Left the bulk of his estate to the Toronto woman who gave birth to the most children during the ten years after his death
    The competition to win the estate was dubbed the 'Great Stork Derby' by Canadian newspapers
    Four women who had nine children in the period received $125,000 each

Why he might be annoying:

    He himself called his will 'capricious.'
    He apparently did not keep the will up to date, since several bequests were of property he no longer owned.
    Ontario tried to invalidate the will on the grounds that it contributed to 'public immorality.'
    The challenge and other legal questions kept the estate from being settled until two years after the Derby had ended.
    Two women who had ten children during the Derby were shafted out of the main prize on technicalities: one because two of her children were stillborn and the other because several of her children were born out of wedlock.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was a good enough lawyer that his will survived all legal challenges.
    The two mothers of ten got consolation payoffs of $12,500 each.
    Much of his will tested people's willingness to compromise their principles for money.
    For instance, he left shares in the Ontario Jockey Club to two vocal opponents of racetrack gambling and left shares in a brewery to several ministers who preached temperance.
    His will began by noting, 'I have no dependents or near relations and no duty rests upon me to leave any property at my death, and what I do leave is proof of my folly in gathering and retaining more than I required in my lifetime.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 15 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 10 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 16 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 57 Votes: 73.68% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 31 Votes: 51.61% Annoying