The Resume

(March 2, 1829-May 14, 1906)
Born in Liblar, Germany
German-American lawyer, journalist and statesman
Founded the Bonner Zeitung (1848)
Editor of the New York Evening Post (1881-83)
Editorial writer for Harper's Weekly (1892-98)
Major-General in the US Civil War
US Ambassador to Spain (July-December, 1861)
US Senator from Missouri (1869-75)
US Secretary of the Interior (1877-81)

Why he might be annoying:

During his first political campaign in the US (for lieutenant governor of Wisconsin in 1857), he knew so little English that he delivered his speeches in his native German.
He was frequently lampooned by cartoonist Thomas Nast.
He campaigned for William McKinley against William Jennings Bryan (1896), then four years later supported Bryan against McKinley.

Why he might not be annoying:

After the failure of a liberal revolution in Germany, he busted his former professor, one of the leaders of the revolt, out of Spandau Prison (1850).
As ambassador to Spain, he helped dissuade the country from supporting the Confederacy.
As a publisher, he hired Joseph Pulitzer as one of his reporters.
As Secretary of the Treasury, he implemented a major reform of the corrupt Office of Indian Affairs.
He ammended the saying 'My country, right or wrong' to 'My country, right or wrong: When right, to be kept right. When wrong, to be set right.'

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Attorney
• Born on Dr. Seuss Day [March 2nd] (Ranked: 1829)
• Breeders [Have 5 or More Kids] (Ranked: 5)
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 35]
• Generals and Admirals
• I am on a U.S. Postage Stamp [R-T]
• I Died in 1906 (Ranked: 77)
• I Earned a High School Equivalency Diploma
• I Outlived My Child
• Look at Me, I'm Postage
• Newspaper Journalists/Editors/Publishers
• Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity
• Profiles 31001-31250 (Ranked: 31113)
• Served in the American Civil War [1861-65]
• U.S. Senators

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 8 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 23 Votes: 65.22% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 19 Votes: 52.63% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 22 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 9 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 51 Votes: 49.02% Annoying