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List of people widely considered eccentric

(Redirected from List of notable eccentrics)


Contents
1 Definition of eccentricity
2 Architects
3 Aristocrats
4 Artists
5 Athletes
6 Business
7 Entertainers
8 Political leaders
9 Inventors
10 Occultists
11 Pranksters
12 Religious
13 Scholars and scientists
14 Writers
15 Others
16 Bibliography

Definition of eccentricity

Eccentricity is necessarily defined relatively. For the purposes of this article, an eccentric is someone whose behavior, beliefs and/or hobbies deviate in a significant way from the accepted norms of their society, but otherwise can function largely as normal in society. He or she may be regarded as strange, odd or at least unconventional, irregular and erratic. Other people may regard the eccentric with apprehension but also with considerable amusement.

People behave in "eccentric" ways for many reasons. Sometimes, particular patterns of "eccentric" behavior can be a sign of mental illness. For example, many experts believe Howard Hughes suffered from the neurological effects of late-stage syphilis.

Sometimes eccentricity is clearly intentional. Some comedians behave in eccentric ways even off-stage for professional reasons—to maintain their funny public image . Some entertainers and artists like Salvador Dalí use eccentric lifestyle to draw attention to themselves and exploit the common perception that creativity and madness are closely related. Athletes may behave in aggressive ways because it is part of their image as "tough guys" and as a way to intimidate their opponents.

There are historical cases where an eccentric may have taken the mantle intentionally for religious reasons (Russian Yurodivy, for example) or used it as an unusual way to make a semblance of living. Some of their contemporaries may have regarded them with religious devotion.

Other so-called "eccentrics" behave the way they do simply because they care little about societal pressures against their behavior. What other people think often does not matter to them.

Further insight in the complex relations between madness, eccentricity and the perception of deviant behavior by mainstream society can be found in A social history of madness by Roy Porter (1987 - ISBN 0297795716). This book also treats several examples of "famous" people ending up in asylums, as a result of their eccentric behavior, e.g. Schumann.

Persons whose habits, appearance, or beliefs have often been described as eccentric include:

Architects

  • Antonio Gaudi, Catalan-Spanish architect
  • Charles Ribart, 18th century French architect who designed a building shaped like an elephant.

See also: by George R. Collins et al. ISBN 0810909146

Aristocrats

Artists

Athletes

Business

  • "Judge" Roy Bean, US saloonkeeper and arbitrary judge who called himself "The Law West of the Pecos".
  • E. H. Bronner, US soapmaker who covered his product's packaging with dense text expounding his philosophical views
  • Timothy Dexter, US businessman who literally sold coal to Newcastle
  • Hetty Green, US businesswoman famous for her stinginess; her estate was more than $100,000,000
  • Howard Hughes, US industrialist and aviator who became a recluse and feared germs
  • Bernarr McFadden , US publisher and fanatical fitness proponent
  • George Francis Train, US businessman who circled the world four times

Entertainers

Political leaders

Inventors

Occultists

Main article: List of occultists

Pranksters

Religious

Scholars and scientists

Main article: Mad scientist

Writers

Others

see also Impostors

Bibliography

  • Le livre des bizarres (in French) - Guy Bechtel and Jean-Claude Carričre, Robert Laffont, Paris (1981)


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07-14-2008 23:18:10
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