The Resume

(circa September 29, 1511-October 27, 1553)
Born in Villanueva de Sijena, Spain
Birth name was Miguel Serveto Conesa
Spanish theologian and physician
Wrote 'On the Errors of the Trinity' (1531), 'Dialogues on the Trinity' (1532) and 'Restoration of Christianity' (1553)
Burnt at the stake as a heretic by the Protestant governing council of Geneva

Why he might be annoying:

His rejection of the trinity united Catholics and Protestants in condemning him as a heretic.
He engaged in increasingly heated correspondence with John Calvin on the subject of predestination, which Calvin supported and Servetus rejected.
While fleeing from France to Italy, he decided it would be a good idea to stop in Geneva and attend one of Calvin's sermons.
He was recognized and arrested immediately after the service.

Why he might not be annoying:

He discovered how blood circulates a century before William Harvey.
He was condemned by the Inquisition, but escaped from a French jail (April 7, 1553), so his effigy (along with his books) was burned in his stead.
Since he was not a citizen of Geneva, according to the laws of the city the worst that could be done to him was banishment, but he was burnt anyway.
Later-day Calvinists put up a plaque at the site of the execution apologizing (1903).
Scholar Marian Hillar wrote, 'Historically speaking, Servetus died so that freedom of conscience could become a civil right in modern society.'

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 30]
• Diseased Initials
• Executed by the State
• I am a Spaniard
• I am a Unitarian
• I am Religiously Ambiguous
• I Caught on Fire
• I Escaped From Prison
• I Predicted the End of the World/The Second Coming (Ranked: 1585)
• I Was Burnt at the Stake
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• My Book is on the Catholic Index of Forbidden Books
• Philosophers: Renaissance [1250-1500]
• Physicians Turned Authors
• Profiles 29501-29750 (Ranked: 29622)
• Renaissance Men (and Women)

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 77 Votes: 62.34% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 66 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 44 Votes: 79.55% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 16 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 53 Votes: 67.92% Annoying