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John Evelyn

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Author

The Resume

    (October 31, 1620-February 27, 1706)
    Born in Wotton, England, United Kingdom
    British civil servant
    Kept a diary from 1641 to 1706

Why he might be annoying:

    He was a prolific author, but the only writing of his that is still remembered is his diary.
    His diary is overshadowed by the one kept by his contemporary, Samuel Pepys.
    He avoided most of the English Civil War by going on an extended journey through Europe.
    He presented a plan for rebuilding London after the Great Fire (1666) but it was ignored by King Charles II.
    He rarely mentioned his wife's feelings in his diary, even when describing the deaths of his children.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He and Mary Browne were married for 59 years until his death.
    He and Mary outlived seven of their eight children.
    He was a founding member of the Royal Society (1660).
    While Pepys' diary covered only a decade, Evelyn's documented most of the 17th century.
    He and Pepys were good friends, with Pepys writing, 'The more I know him, the more I love him.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 15 Votes: 73.33% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 15 Votes: 73.33% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 16 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 21 Votes: 76.19% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 19 Votes: 68.42% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 10 Votes: 30.0% Annoying