Top 10 Incredibly Eccentric People

“Discover the most bizarre and eccentric figures in history with our ‘Top 10 Incredibly Eccentric People’ article. From Hetty Green’s extreme thriftiness to William Archibald Spooner’s famous spoonerisms, explore the quirks and peculiarities of these fascinating individuals. Read on for a journey through some of history’s most eccentric lives!”

1. Jemmy Hirst, 1738–1829

If you thought the previous entries were strange, get ready for Jemmy Hirst, who was known for his extreme eccentricity. Hirst, famous in his time for his oddities, declined an invitation for tea from King George III, claiming he was training an otter to fish. Eventually, he did visit the king, but not without causing a scene by throwing a goblet of water at a courtier he believed was having a fit. He trained his bull to pull his carriage and used pigs as hunting dogs. At his funeral, he requested twelve old maids, a bagpiper, and a fiddler to accompany his coffin.

2. William Buckland, 1784–1856

William Buckland is renowned for being the first person to write a comprehensive account of a fossil. He was also known for his eccentric dietary habits. His home was like a zoo, filled with various animals which he would then cook and serve to guests. Buckland claimed to have eaten every type of animal and famously consumed the preserved heart of a French king, Louis XIV.

3. Francis Egerton, 1756–1823

Francis Egerton, the 8th Earl of Bridgewater, hosted unusual dinner parties for dogs, dressing them in fine fashions of the time. His unique way of measuring time involved wearing a pair of shoes only once before lining them up to count the days. Despite his failing eyesight, he continued to hunt with clipped-wing pigeons and partridges.

4. Gerald Tyrwhitt-Wilson, 1883–1950

Known as Lord Berners, Gerald Tyrwhitt-Wilson led an extraordinarily eccentric life. He dyed his pigeons in various colors and kept a pet giraffe with whom he had afternoon tea. His Rolls Royce was outfitted with a harpsichord so he could play music while driving through the countryside. He left his estate to his much younger companion, Robert Heber-Percy, who was equally eccentric.

5. Sir George Sitwell, 1860–1943

Sir George Sitwell, father of famous writer Dame Edith Sitwell, was known for his peculiar habits. He invented a pistol to shoot wasps in his garden and refused to pay his wife’s debts, leading to her imprisonment. He had seven libraries in his home and once tried to pay his son’s Eton fees with produce from his garden. Additionally, he had the cows on his estate painted in blue and white Chinese willow patterns to make them look better.

6. Oscar Wilde, 1854–1900

Oscar Wilde was a flamboyant figure whose eccentricity was matched by his brilliant wit. During a time of moral conservatism, he stood out with his flamboyant clothing and unique tastes. At Oxford, he famously walked around with a lobster on a leash. His room was decorated with bright blue china and peacock feathers. His career was tragically cut short by imprisonment due to his affair with Lord Alfred Douglas.

7. John Christie, 1882–1962

John Christie, co-founder of the Glyndebourne Opera Festival, was known for his quirky behavior. He would remove his glass eye to clean it during opera performances and ask the queen if it was properly aligned. Christie owned 180 handkerchiefs, 110 shirts, and despite spending lavishly on opera productions, he traveled third class and carried his own luggage to avoid tipping.

8. Simeon Ellerton, 1702–1799

Simeon Ellerton was a fitness enthusiast of the 18th century. He often carried stones on his head during long walks to build his own house. After collecting enough stones to complete his cottage, he continued to walk around with a bag of stones on his head, feeling uncomfortable without the extra weight.

9. William Archibald Spooner, 1844–1930

William Archibald Spooner is famous for the linguistic phenomenon known as “spoonerisms,” which involve the accidental swapping of letters or words. As an Oxford professor, his spoonerisms became legendary, with people attending his lectures just to hear his verbal slip-ups. Spooner himself was not pleased with the fame but later softened and gave interviews about his linguistic quirks.

10. Hetty Green, 1834–1916

Hetty Green, dubbed the “Witch of Wall Street,” was a notorious miser who amassed great wealth and became the richest woman in the world. She worked out of trunks at her local bank to save on rent and avoided paying taxes by frequently moving between New York and New Jersey. When her son fell ill, she tried to avoid paying for his treatment and ended up having his leg amputated due to gangrene. Hetty wore the same black dress for years and only changed her underwear when it wore out.