The Resume

Charles Duryea (December 15, 1861-September 28, 1938), born in Canton, Illinois
James Frank Duryea (October 8, 1869-February 15, 1967), born in Washburn, Illinois
Built the first working gas-powered automobile in the United States (September 21, 1893)
Founded the Duryea Motor Wagon Company (1895)
Charles designed automobiles, while Frank built, tested, and raced them
Inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1973 (Charles) and 1996 (Frank)

Why they might be annoying:

Their first automobile was a used horse-drawn buggy with a 4-horsepower engine installed.
They split over a dispute concerning a financing offer that would have required the company to move to Detroit (1899); Charles stayed with the original company while Frank teamed with gun manufacturer J. Stevens to form Stevens-Duryea.
Charles was unsuccessful in his attempts to build a people's car that would compete with Henry Ford's Model T.

Why they might not be annoying:

Charles predicted the 'advent of the automobile' in an 1882 college thesis.
One of their vehicles, driven by Frank, won the first auto race held in the US (November 28, 1895).
Their company built and sold thirteen cars, becoming the first commercial auto manufacturer in the US (1896).
Their original car is on display at the Smithsonian.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 92]
• Dual Profiles
• I Died in 1938 (Ranked: 76)
• I Died in 1967 (Ranked: 97)
• Known By a Middle Name
• Look at Me, I'm Driving
• My Name, My Company
• Profiles 57251-57500 (Ranked: 57475)
• We Died on the Same Day (Ranked: 19670215)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 11 Votes: 18.18% Annoying