The Resume

(May 23, 1908-January 30, 1991)
Born in Madison, Wisconsin
Won two Nobel Prizes in Physics: as co-inventor of the transistor (1956) and as co-developer of the BCS theory of superconductivity (1972)
Awarded the National Medal of Science (1965) and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1977)

Why he might be annoying:

He earned the membership fees for his college fraternity by playing pool.
He was turned down for a fellowship to Trinity College, Cambridge (1929).
He feuded with transistor co-inventor William Shockley, commenting on leaving Bell Labs, 'My difficulties stem from the invention of the transistor. Before that there was an excellent research atmosphere here.'
Some colleagues suggested he was overlooked by the media because he did not live up to the stereotype of an eccentric genius.

Why he might not be annoying:

He entered the University of Wisconsin at age 15.
He was married to Jane Maxwell for 53 years until his death.
Noting that it took two decades to develop a theory of superconductivity, he said, 'You have got to believe in persistence. It sometimes pays off.'
He was the first person to win two Nobel Prizes in the same field.
University of Illinois Chancellor Morton Weir said, 'It is a rare person whose work changes the life of every American. John's did.'

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• 20th Century Scientists
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 23]
• Celebrities Born on the Same Date [May] (Ranked: 5231908)
• I am on a U.S. Postage Stamp [A-C]
• I Attended Princeton
• I Attended University of Wisconsin-Madison
• I Died in 1991 (Ranked: 82)
• I Earned a Doctorate
• Inventors
• Look at Me, I Got My Arms Folded
• Nobel Prize for Physics (Ranked: 1956)
• Nobel Prize for Physics (Ranked: 1972)
• People with John or Mary in their Names
• Profiles 26751-27000 (Ranked: 26786)
• Scientists
• U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients
• We Celebrated Our Golden Anniversary

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 8 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 120 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 9 Votes: 22.22% Annoying