James Botting

Jemmy Botting (baptised 12 October 1783 – 1 October 1837) was an English executioner who was the hangman at Newgate Prison in London, from 1817 to 1819 during which tenure he claimed to have hanged a total of 175 persons.[1] He was succeeded by John Foxton who had previously been his assistant from 1818.[2]

Born in Brighton, he died in Hove on 1 October 1837[3] after falling out of his wheelchair in the street. He was so hated that no-one would come to his assistance.[1]

His notable executions included the fraudster Henry Fauntleroy in 1824[3] and the five leaders of the Cato Street conspiracy in 1820. The latter execution was followed by the last legal public decapitation.[1][2][4]

References
  1. Janet Cameron (2008). Brighton & Hove Murders & Misdemeanours. Amberley Publishing. p. 71. ISBN 1-84868-167-4.
  2. John Laurence (1971). A history of capital punishment: with special reference to capital punishment in Great Britain. Kennikat Press. pp. 108–109. ISBN 0-8046-1114-9.
  3. James Erredge (1862). History of Brighthelmstone. pp. 335–336.
  4. Horace Bleackley (1929). The hangmen of England: how they hanged and whom they hanged : the life story of "Jack Ketch" through two centuries. Taylor & Francis. p. 170. ISBN 0-7158-1184-3.

Further reading
  • R. C. Grant "Notorious Brightonians" Sussex Family Historian (June 1996) p. 52
  • A. Griffiths. The Chronicles of Newgate (1987); pp 454–458
  • Linebaugh, Peter. The London Hanged (1992).


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