The Resume

(circa 1764-March 12, 1820)
Born in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Scotland, United Kingdom
Canoed down the Mackenzie River from the Great Slave Lake to its outlet (July 3-14, 1789)
Headed the first expedition from the Canadian interior to the Pacific coast (October 10, 1792-July 20, 1793)
Knighted (1802)
Wrote 'Voyages from Montreal to the Frozen and Pacific Oceans' (1804)
Served in the House of Assembly of Lower Canada (1804-08)

Why he might be annoying:

He reportedly called the Mackenzie River 'the River of Disappointment' because it brought him to the Arctic Ocean instead of the Pacific as he had hoped for.
He attended only session of the House of Assembly, admitting to a cousin that he was already 'heartily tired of legislation.'
When he was 48, he married a 14 year old heiress.
An planned reenactment of his journey to the Pacific for its bicentennial had to be called off when the First Nations that owned part of the land route between the Fraser River and the Bella Coola River refused access.

Why he might not be annoying:

He lost no men on either of his expeditions.
He had great physical strength and stamina.
His explorations inspired President Thomas Jefferson to send Lewis and Clark to head an American expedition to the Pacific.
Jefferson gave Lewis a copy of Mackenzie's book to serve as a reference.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• A Rose was Named in My Honor
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 88]
• I am Scottish
• I Sought Political Office
• Knights
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• My Spouse is at Least Ten Years Younger than Me
• Profiles 54501-54750 (Ranked: 54623)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying