The Resume

(March 22, 1868-December 19, 1953)
Born in Morrison, Illinois
Determined the charge of the electron (1913)
Also studied the photoelectric effect, Brownian motion and cosmic rays
Won the Nobel Prize in Physics (1923)
President of Caltech (1921-45)
Wrote 'Evolution in Science and Religion' (1927)

Why he might be annoying:

He was accused of scientific fraud in selectively using data from his experiments in measuring the charge of the electron.
He joined the pro-eugenics Human Betterment Foundation, which advocated compulsory sterilization laws.
He praised the city of San Marino, adjacent to Caltech, as 'the westernmost outpost of Nordic civilization... [with] a population which is twice as Anglo-Saxon as that existing in New York, Chicago or any of the great cities of this country.'

Why he might not be annoying:

A review of his data indicated that he would have gotten the same value for the electron charge (although the margin of error would have increased from 0.5% to 2%).
His 'A First Course in Physics' (1906) became a standard textbook.
He was married to Greta Blanchard for 51 years until her death.
His son Glenn died in a climbing accident (1947).
He built Caltech into one of the nation's leading institutes for scientific research.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• 20th Century Scientists
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 22]
• Eugenics Supporters
• I am a Unitarian
• I am an Iowan
• I am on a U.S. Postage Stamp [M-Q]
• I Attended Columbia
• I Attended Oberlin College
• I Died in 1953 (Ranked: 85)
• I Earned a Doctorate
• I Made a Biased Comment in Public [Some Alleged]
• I Outlived My Child
• I'm Buried at Forest Lawn Glendale Cemetery [Calif]
• Look At Me, I'm With Albert Einstein
• Nobel Prize for Physics (Ranked: 1923)
• Profiles 26501-26750 (Ranked: 26558)
• Scientists
• We Celebrated Our Golden Anniversary

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 14 Votes: 78.57% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 33 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 21 Votes: 47.62% Annoying