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William Archibald Spooner

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Educator

The Resume

    (July 22, 1844-August 29, 1930)
    Born in London, United Kingdom
    Anglican priest
    Dean (1876-1889) and Warden (1903-30) of New College, Oxford
    Namesake for spoonerisms in which parts of two words are switched
    Spoonerisms credited to him include:
    'The Lord is a shoving leopard'
    Telling a groom, 'It is kisstomary to cuss the bride'
    Referring to Victoria as 'our queer old dean'
    Celebrating the end of WWI with 'We'll have the hags flung out'

Why he might be annoying:

    His head was described as too large for his body.
    He probably never said most of the spoonerisms attributed to him.
    As his reputation for malaprops grew, he castigated a crowd that came to one of his lectures with 'You don't want a speech. You only want to hear me say one of those... things.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    Scientist Julian Huxley said he possessed 'that rare quality which I can only describe as saintliness.'
    Historian Arnold Toynbee said he 'looked like a rabbit but was as brave as a lion.'
    Huxley noted he was 'the direct or indirect cause of a considerable addition to the world's stock of good-natured laughter.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 41.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 19 Votes: 57.89% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 14 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 32 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 22 Votes: 40.91% Annoying