Voting Station

James Wilkinson

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Military Personnel

The Resume

    (March 24, 1757-December 28, 1825)
    Born in Benedict, Maryland
    Served in the American Revolution and War of 1812
    Commanding General of the United States Army (1796-98,1800-12)
    Governor of Louisiana Territory (1805-07)

Why he might be annoying:

    When he was dispatched to the Continental Congress to report the victory at Saratoga, he embellished his role in the battle, resulting in his being brevetted as a major general.
    He may have participated in the Conway Cabal, a conspiracy to replace George Washington as commander in chief.
    He became a paid agent of Spain, earning $7,000 a year for trying to convince Kentucky to leave the US and become a Spanish territory.
    He joined Aaron Burr's plot to set up an independent country carved from parts of the Louisiana Territory and Mexico.
    During the War of 1812, he lost both battles that he commanded, with his 4,000-man army routed by 200 British soldiers.
    Historian Frederick Jackson Turner called him 'The most consummate artist in treason that the nation ever possessed.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He spolied Burr's plans by ratting him out to Thomas Jefferson.
    He sponsored the expeditions of explorer Zebulon Pike.
    He was acquitted in two seperate court martials over his involvement with Burr (1811) and his losses in the War of 1812 (1814).

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 14 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 23 Votes: 52.17% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 18 Votes: 72.22% Annoying