The Resume

(May 25, 1879-June 9, 1964)
Born in Maple, Ontario, Canada
Birth name was William Maxwell Aitken
Canadian-British publisher/politician/philanthropist
Owned the 'London Evening Standard' and 'Daily Express'
Named 1st Baron Beaverbrook (1917)
Served as Minister of Information (1918), Aircraft Production (1940-41), Supply (1941-42) and War Production (1942)
Wrote 'Canada in Flanders' (1916), 'Politicians and the Press' (1925), 'Politicians and the War' (1932) and 'Men and Power' (1956)

Why he might be annoying:

He reportedly left Canada for Britain one step ahead of being busted for securities fraud.
After unsuccessfully trying to oust Stanley Baldwin as leader of the Conservative Party, he briefly supported Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists.
He was described by Time as having 'the smile and manners of a spoiled bad boy.'
He announced his retirement from publishing three times (the first in 1927) only to keep running his newspapers until his death.
H.G. Wells said, 'If ever Max ever gets to Heaven, he won't last long. He will be chucked out for trying to pull off a merger between Heaven and Hell -- after having secured a controlling interest in key subsidiary companies in both places, of course.'

Why he might not be annoying:

He was one of three politicians to serve in the British cabinet during both World Wars.
Under his leadership, aircraft production increased so much that Winston Churchill said, 'His personal force and genius made this Aitken's finest hour.'
He turned the Daily Express into the best-selling newspaper in the world.
He employed Evelyn Waugh as a correspondent despite Waugh lampooning him in several novels.
He became chancellor of the University of New Brunswick, where he funded several buildings and scholarships.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 25]
• I Come from Canada
• I Died in 1964 (Ranked: 85)
• I Have Asthma
• I was Cremated
• Known By a Middle Name
• Look at Me, I'm in a Field or Meadow
• Look at Me, I'm on the Cover of Time
• Look at My Magazine Cover
• Newspaper Delivery Boys
• Newspaper Journalists/Editors/Publishers
• Profiles 27251-27500 (Ranked: 27485)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 8 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 5 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 11 Votes: 81.82% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 18 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 88 Votes: 36.36% Annoying