10 British Executioners

Pierrepoint

I was reading about capital punishment recently. Hence this bizarre list.

1. Thomas Derrick

(Elizabethan executioner convicted of rape but pardoned by the Earl of Essex, [whom he later executed, 1601], on the condition that he became an executioner at Tyburn)

2. Richard Brandon

(17th-century hangman who inherited his role from his father Gregory [hence the nickname "Young Gregory". He is often named as the executioner of Charles I).

3. Jack Ketch

(infamous English executioner employed by King Charles II. Famous for the way he performed his duties during the tumults of the 1680s. Executed death sentences against Lord Russell, 1683, and Duke of Monmouth, 1685, after the Monmouth Rebellion. Named in Punch and Judy and Dickens novels. A proverbial name for death, Satan and executioners.)

4. William Marvell 1715–1717

(a blacksmith by trade, conducted hangings at Tyburn from 1715. He lost his job due to debt in 1717 and two years later was convicted of theft after stealing "10 silk handkerchiefs").

5. William Calcraft

(executioner 1829–1874. It is estimated that in his 45-year career he carried out 450 executions. A cobbler by trade, he was initially recruited to flog juvenile offenders held in Newgate prison)

6. William Marwood

(executioner 1874–1883, another cobbler by trade. He developed the so-called 'long drop' method of hanging)

7. Bartholomew Binns 1883–1884

(formerly Marwood's assistant he was a drunkard and was soon sacked)

8. James Berry

(executioner 1884–1891, he wrote of his experiences. His most important contribution to the science of hanging was his refinement of Marwood's long drop. Some of his improvements remained standard practice until the abolition of capital punishment in the UK)

9. James Billington

(served 1884–1901. Three sons - Thomas, William and John - followed in their father's footsteps and became hangmen too)

10. Albert Pierrepoint

(served 1932–1956. His father [Henry] and uncle [Thomas] had also been hangmen. On retirement Albert became a publican and wrote his memoirs. He executed at least 400 people in his long career, including war criminals).