The Resume

(July 12, 1730-January 3, 1795)
Born in Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom
Potter
Founder of the Wedgwood company
Credited with pioneering mass production of pottery
Named Potter to Her Majesty, Queen Charlotte (1766)

Why he might be annoying:

He had an autocratic and patriarchal attitude towards his workers.
He would go through his factory smashing any pots that failed to meet his standards.
He married a wealthy cousin, whose fortune helped him build a pottery factory.
He was the grandfather of Charles Darwin -- and of Darwin's wife Emma, continuing the family tradition of marrying cousins.

Why he might not be annoying:

A childhood bout of smallpox weakened his knees and eventually required amputation of his right leg.
He built the first factory to incorporate a steam engine.
He was elected to the Royal Society for inventing a pyrometer to measure the temperature in kilns.
He was a pioneer of modern marketing techniques, including direct mail, money-back guarantees, 'buy one, get one free' offers and illustrated catalogs.
As part of an anti-slavery campaign, he mass-marketed medallions of a black man in chains with the caption 'Am I not a Man and a Brother?'

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Amputees
• Breeders [Have 5 or More Kids] (Ranked: 8)
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 52]
• Forbes' 20 Most Influential Businessmen of All Time [2006] (Ranked: 19)
• I am a Unitarian
• I Did Not Graduate High School [T-Z]
• I Have Smallpox
• Inventors
• Look at Me, I'm Postage
• Profiles 35251-35500 (Ranked: 35310)
• Tree Names

Year In Review:

In 2022, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 14 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 13 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 16 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 25 Votes: 60.0% Annoying