The Resume

(November 1, 1815-June 16, 1878)
Born in Danielsville, Georgia
Surgeon and pharmacist
First doctor known to have used anesthesia in surgery: administered ether to James Venable before removing a tumor from Venable's neck (March 20, 1842)

Why he might be annoying:

He did not publish an account of his use of anesthesia in a medical journal until 1849, three years after William T.G. Morton had publicly demonstrated its use.
Without any evidence, he accused Morton and Horace Wells of stealing the idea for anesthesia from him, claiming they had travelled to Georgia and learned of his success with ether.
His petitions to Congress asking to be formally recognized as the discoverer of anesthetic surgery had no effect.

Why he might not be annoying:

He entered the University of Georgia at age 14.
Despite his youth, he graduated from Georgia second in his class.
Before Morton's demonstration, he had discussed his results with other physicians in Georgia, some of who also began administering ether to patients before operations.
During the Civil War, he performed surgery on soldiers from both sides.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• A Hospital is Named in My Honor
• Breeders [Have 5 or More Kids] (Ranked: 12)
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 84]
• I am on a U.S. Postage Stamp [H-L]
• I Attended University of Georgia
• I Attended University of Pennsylvania
• I Earned a Doctorate
• I Had a Stroke [Cerebral Vascular Accident]
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• National Statuary Hall Collection at the US Capitol (Ranked: 10)
• Profiles 53001-53250 (Ranked: 53084)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 23 Votes: 13.04% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying