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Harry Oakes

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Philanthropist

The Resume

    (December 23, 1879-July 7, 1943)
    Born in Sangerville, Maine
    Gold miner at Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
    Became a British citizen (1935)
    Named a baronet for his charitable works (1939)
    Found murdered in his mansion in the Bahamas
    Son-in-law Count Alfred de Marigny was tried for the murder and acquitted

Why he might be annoying:

    He dropped out of medical school to join the Klondike Gold Rush (1898).
    He was described as 'ill mannered and foul tempered.'
    He moved to the Bahamas for its lower taxes.

Why he might not be annoying:

    In a decade, he went from having $2.65 in his pockets to being Canada's wealthiest citizen.
    He gave shares in his mine to friends and family members who had supported him during his lean years.
    He was bludgeoned about the head, then set on fire while still alive.
    His killer was never brought to justice.
    The two leading theories are: (1) Count de Marigny actually did do it, but the investigation was too badly botched to prove it; (2) he was killed by associates of mobster Meyer Lansky due to Oakes' resistance to opening casinos in the Bahamas.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 70.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 14 Votes: 64.29% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 8 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying