The Resume

(February 8, 1577-January 25, 1640)
Born in Lindley, England, United Kingdom
Fellow of Christ Church College, Oxford
Appointed vicar of St. Thomas' Church, Oxford (1616)
Wrote 'The Anatomy of Melancholy' (1621)

Why he might be annoying:

He suffered bouts of depression.
He wrote, 'All the world is melancholy or mad.'
He was an astrologer.
He predicted he would die at age 62, and was rumored to have hanged himself when his 63rd birthday was imminent to avoid being wrong.
His writing style was parodied by Laurence Sterne in 'Tristam Shandy.'

Why he might not be annoying:

He noted, 'I write of melancholy, by being busy to avoid melancholy. There is no greater cause of melancholy than idleness, no better cure than business.'
His other favorite cure for depression was going down to the river and listening to the bargemen cursing at each other.
He was described as a person of 'great honesty, plain dealing, and charity.'
The story about him hanging himself is probably BS.
Fans of 'The Anatomy of Melancholy' included Samuel Johnson, John Keats and Anthony Burgess, who said 'Most modern books weary me, but Burton never does.'

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 45]
• I Attended Oxford
• I'm Depressed [Reportedly Uni-polar]
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• Profiles 33501-33750 (Ranked: 33695)
• Renaissance Men (and Women)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 77 Votes: 62.34% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 19 Votes: 15.79% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 17 Votes: 52.94% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying