Voting Station

Henry Dow

Please vote to return to collections.

Scientist

The Resume

    (February 26, 1866-October 30, 1960)
    Discovered how to cheaply and easily extract chemicals (especially bromine) and metals from sea water
    Founded Dow chemical (1896)

Why he might be annoying:

    He angered many of his college classmates because extracting bromine from brine causes exceptionally horrible smells.
    An offshoot of his company developed breast implants.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He earned a B.S. in chemistry.
    He discovered new and cheap ways to extract chemicals from sea water.
    The chemical processes he developed are still used today.
    He brought the price of bromine down immensely, particularly used in developing film. This allowed the camera craze to develop.
    A German cartel, angered at his undercutting them in Europe, deliberately sold chemicals at very low prices in America. He beat them at their own game by buying up their supply and reselling it even cheaper.
    He popularized magnesium in America. Without it, Americans wouldn't have colorful fireworks on the Fourth of July.
    When the same Germans offered to invite him into their magnesium cartel, he refused.

Credit: Lorg Skyegon


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 36.36% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 9 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 13 Votes: 23.08% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 14 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 10 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 28 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 34 Votes: 38.24% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 34 Votes: 44.12% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 69 Votes: 47.83% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 103 Votes: 42.72% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 160 Votes: 42.50% Annoying