Comedy History 101

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History of William Topaz McGonagall: The Worst Poet in Scottish History: Part One

William Topaz McGonagall (1825 –1902) has the notoriety of being the worst poet in Scottish history. What they said about McGonagall back in the day was:

β€œHe was so giftedly bad he unwittingly backed in genius.”

When McGonagall would perform his poetry, it usually resulted in being pelted with rotten eggs, peas, and herring. The comedy legacy of McGonagall is he went on to influence the likes of Monty Python, Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, The Muppets, and of course, Harry Potter. 

 

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(Pt 1) History of William Topaz McGonagall: The Worst Poet in Scottish History Comedy History 101