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Cotton Mather

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Religious Figure

The Resume

    (February 12, 1663-February 13, 1728)
    Born in Boston, Massachusetts
    Puritan preacher and scholar
    Best known for his role in the Salem witch trials (1692-93)
    Wrote ‘Wonders of the Invisible World’ (1692), ‘Essays to do Good’ (1710), ‘Curiosa Americana’ (1714) and ‘Christian Philosopher’ (1721)

Why he might be annoying:

    His parents were stepsiblings.
    He read 15 bible verses a day as a child.
    Despite his interest in science he believed in witchcraft.
    He had 9 children with his first wife and 6 with his second.
    He is often caricatured as a ruthless witch hunter.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He is the quintessential ‘fire and brimstone’ preacher.
    He enrolled at Harvard at age 12.
    He came to doubt the evidence presented at the Salem witch trials and criticized the court.
    He strongly advocated smallpox inoculation (and had his house firebombed as a result).
    He came from a long line of renowned Puritan intellectuals.
    He outlived 13 of his children.

Credit: Georgina


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 20 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 15 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 9 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 20 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 13 Votes: 46.15% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 18 Votes: 61.11% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 22 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 20 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 28 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 15 Votes: 73.33% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 52 Votes: 67.31% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 49 Votes: 51.02% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 38 Votes: 73.68% Annoying