The Resume

(September 11, 1862-June 5, 1910)
Born in Greensboro, North Carolina
Birth name was William Sidney Porter
Wrote over 400 short stories
Best-known works include 'The Ransom of Red Chief,' 'A Retrieved Reformation,' 'After Twenty Years,' 'Compliments of the Season' and 'The Gift of the Magi'

Why he might be annoying:

When he was charged with embezzling from the bank where he worked, he skipped bail and fled for Honduras (1896).
He served three years in jail for the crime (1898-1901).
At his peak, he drank two quarts of whiskey a day.
He provided several different stories about the inspiration for his pen name.
Despite what some sources say, he was not the namesake for the 'Oh! Henry' candy bar.

Why he might not be annoying:

While in Honduras, he coined the term 'banana republic.'
He returned to the states after learning his wife was dying of tuberculosis.
He is the namesake for the O. Henry Award for outstanding short stories.
Despite his heavy drinking, he averaged a story a week.
His stories are known for their wit and their twist endings.
His life had a twist ending he would have appreciated: his funeral at Manhattan's Little Church Around the Corner was accidentally scheduled at the same time as a wedding.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• 25 Most Adapted Authors in Film (Ranked: 10)
• Alcohol Contributed to My Death
• Award Namesakes
• Born on September 11th (Ranked: 1862)
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 11]
• Celebrities Born on the Same Date [September] (Ranked: 9111862)
• Exiles
• Golden Girls References
• I am Hypoglycemic
• I am Known by My Initials
• I am on a U.S. Postage Stamp [H-L]
• I Died in 1910 (Ranked: 47)
• O Magazine's 35 Best Christmas Books [2020] (Ranked: 19)
• Profiles 22751-23000 (Ranked: 22972)
• Residents of the Hotel Chelsea
• We Eloped

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 15 Votes: 6.67% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 27 Votes: 40.74% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 114 Votes: 59.65% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 8 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 13 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 9 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 73 Votes: 43.84% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 22 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 82 Votes: 47.56% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 21 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 97 Votes: 43.30% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 35 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 52 Votes: 34.62% Annoying