The Resume

(January 3, 1733-August 3, 1792)
Born in Preston, England, United Kingdom
Patented the water frame (1769) and carding machine (1775) for spinning fibers into yarn
Built one of the first factories for housing machinery rather than just assembling workers in one place
Leading entrepreneur of the Industrial Revolution
Called the father of the factory system

Why he might be annoying:

He fathered a son out of wedlock with his mistress.
He was difficult to work with and constantly clashed with his business partners.
His factories employed children as young as seven.
His patents were overturned, with the courts ruling he had copied other people's inventions (1785).

Why he might not be annoying:

His parents could not afford to send him to school, but he was taught to read and write by his cousin.
Two of his children died before reaching adulthood.
He spent 12,000 pounds on improving the machinery for his mills.
He was knighted and named high sheriff of Derbyshire (1786).

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Breeders [Have 5 or More Kids] (Ranked: 5)
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 23]
• I Fathered Children Out of Wedlock
• I Named My Kid After Myself
• I Outlived My Child
• Knights
• Life Magazine's Top 100 People of the Millennium [2000] (Ranked: 17)
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• My House Burned Down
• Powdered Wig Wearers
• Profiles 26501-26750 (Ranked: 26688)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 20 Votes: 30.0% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 18 Votes: 77.78% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 9 Votes: 88.89% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 22 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 29 Votes: 44.83% Annoying