The Resume

(January 23, 1897-January 31, 1989)
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Birth name was William Samuel Clouston Stanger
Combat pilot during World War I
During World War II established the British Security Coordination (BSC) in New York
Created and oversaw the British intelligence network in the Western Hemisphere
Prior to Pearl Harbor, covertly lobbied for US entry into the war
Subject of the books 'A Man Called Intrepid' (2000) and 'The True Intrepid' (2002)

Why he might be annoying:

His WWI flying career came to an end when he was accidentally shot down by a French plane.
His attempt to start a hardware business between the wars failed.
He married a tobacco heiress.
Some of accounts of his WWII exploits in his biographies may have been exaggerated.

Why he might not be annoying:

During the 30s, he passed to Winston Churchill information about Germany violating the Treaty of Versailles by secretly rearming.
As head of the BSC, he worked without a salary and paid many of the employees out of his own pocket.
In recommending him for a knighthood, Churchill wrote, 'This one is dear to my heart.'
He was the first non-US citizen to receive the Presidential Medal for Merit (1946).
Ian Fleming said, 'James Bond is a highly romanticized version of a true spy. The real thing is William Stephenson.'

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 23]
• CBC's Greatest Canadians (Ranked: 54)
• Celebrities Born on the Same Date [January] (Ranked: 1231893)
• I Come from Canada
• I Did Not Graduate High School [N-S]
• I Died in 1989 (Ranked: 92)
• I Was a Prisoner of War
• I was Adopted or Orphaned
• Knights
• Order of Canada Recipients
• Pilots
• Profiles 26501-26750 (Ranked: 26635)
• Served in World War I
• Served in World War II
• U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 13 Votes: 23.08% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 123 Votes: 50.41% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 16 Votes: 43.75% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 17 Votes: 47.06% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 8 Votes: 12.50% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 17 Votes: 52.94% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 27 Votes: 40.74% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 118 Votes: 37.29% Annoying