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Myles Standish

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Adventurer

The Resume

    (circa 1584-October 3, 1656)
    Born in Lancashire County, England, United Kingdom
    English military officer hired by the Pilgrims as Plymouth Colony's military leader/adviser
    Signer of the Mayflower Compact at Cape Cod, Massachusetts (November 11, 1620)
    Died in Duxbury, Plymouth Colony, MA
    Town of Standish, Maine and the Myles Standish State Forest in Plymouth named in his honor

Why he might be annoying:

    His names is often misspelled as 'Miles.'
    Not much is known about his early life, including where he was born conclusively (three popular theories are Chorley, Duxbury and the Isle of Man).
    He was known for his short stature and shorter temper, which one colonist described as a 'chimney soon fired.'
    One colonist whom he arrested gave him the nickname 'Captain Shrimp.'
    A Native American named Pecksuot called him a great Captain but a little man, at which time he fought Pecksuot and ended up stabbing him to death.
    News of this spread to Native American camps, some of whom fled and caused the Pilgrims loss of important allies and trading partners.
    Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1858 poem 'The Courtship of Miles Standish' is completely fictionalized.

Why he might not be annoying:

    Serving in England's army, he agreed to become the protector of the Mayflower Pilgrims and their voyage to America.
    His duties included defense against enemies both foreign (French, Spanish, Dutch) and domestic (Native American).
    The first winter at Plymouth Colony (1620-21) saw sickness that killed nearly half the Pilgrims, including his first wife.
    As one of a handful of colonists who didn't fall ill, he tirelessly helped the sickened ones.
    One of his seven children by his second wife died in infancy.
    As both a skilled negotiator and military tactician, he was able to keep Native American attacks to a minimum, often choosing to talk things out rather than fight.
    He befriended a Native American named Hobomok who was a powerful warrior among many Native tribes and an important ally to him.
    Holding several positions of authority in Plymouth Colony, he was respected by most Pilgrims, made several trips to England to bring back supplies and helped bring stabilization to his new homeland.
    During the English Civil War (1641-51), he and his son Alexander lost land in Lancashire County that they were not able to legally retrieve.
    In the last few years of his life, he suffered from painful kidney stones.
    The negative adjective 'standoffish' has nothing to do with him.

Credit: Scar Tactics


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 24 Votes: 54.17% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 11 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 9 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 22 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 29 Votes: 55.17% Annoying