Voting Station

Elizabeth Van Lew

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Spy

The Resume

    (October 25, 1818-September 25, 1900)
    Born in Richmond, Virginia
    Ran a Union spy ring in Richmond during the US Civil War
    Also helped Union soldiers escape from Libby Prison in Richmond
    Served as Postmaster of Richmond during Reconstruction (1869-77)

Why she might be annoying:

    She is often described as an eccentric who played up her 'Crazy Bet' image as cover for her spying, but that is probably a myth. (Instead, she seems to have taken advantage of the presumption that a Southern belle would never do anything as 'unladylike' as espionage.)
    After the war, she was ostracized by her fellow Richmonders.
    She persuaded the US Department of War to give her its records of her, so she could hide the full extent of her espionage from her neighbors.
    She unsuccessfully petitioned the federal government to reimburse her for the money she spent on her spying activities.

Why she might not be annoying:

    After her father's death, she convinced her brother to free the family's slaves.
    She spent most of her inheritance purchasing then freeing relatives of her family's former slaves.
    Her espionage ring reportedly extended into the Confederate White House, where one of the servants may have spied for her.
    George Sharpe, the intelligence officer for the Army of the Potomac, credited her with 'the greater portion of our intelligence in 1864-65.'
    As Postmaster of Richmond, she integrated the staff and improved service.
    When the government refused to reimburse her, a group of wealthy Bostonians stepped in to provide financial support.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 11 Votes: 36.36% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 13 Votes: 76.92% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 8 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying