The Resume

(June 11, 1671-November 12, 1757)
Wrote ‘Apology for the Life of Colley Cibber,' ‘Love's Last Shift,' ‘The Careless Husband' and ‘Papal Tyranny in the Reign of King John'
Poet Laureate of Great Britain (1730-1757)

Why he might be annoying:

He was a shitty poet and a hammy actor.
He kissed up to powerful people to become Poet Laureate.
Critics and colleagues of his time despised him.
Alexander Pope said he had ‘less human genius than God gives an ape.'
Henry Fielding issued a warrant to arrest him for ‘murdering the English language.'
One writer said his acting ‘mutilated Shakespeare' and ‘crucified Molière.'
He became known as ‘the King of Dunces.'

Why he might not be annoying:

His autobiography gives a good picture of 18th-century London.
His parents tried to force him to become a priest instead of an actor.
He was a popular comedian in his day.
He was known as a shrewd theater manager.
Most of his children died young.
When Alexander Pope published poetry mocking him, Cibber published a letter saying Pope had a small penis (touché).

Credit: Wieland Kalligaro

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• 18th Century Poets
• I Outlived My Child
• Look at Me, It's Okay
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• Poets
• Poets Laureate of Great Britain (Ranked: 6)
• Powdered Wig Wearers
• Profiles 16501-16750 (Ranked: 16741)
• Supersized Egos
• Wieland Kalligaro's Profiles [Series 8]

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 6 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 6 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 18 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 17 Votes: 76.47% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 6 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 62 Votes: 67.74% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 62 Votes: 35.48% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 44 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 64 Votes: 67.19% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 101 Votes: 72.28% Annoying
In 2005, Out of 11 Votes: 81.82% Annoying