Do not hack me as you did my Lord Russell. Definition of jack ketch in the Definitions.net dictionary. He executed the death sentences against William Russell, Lord Russell, in Lincoln's Inn Fields on 21 July 1683, and James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, on 15 July 1685, after the Monmouth Rebellion. Punch with Jack Ketch, early 1900s. Ketch was forced to issue a pamphlet 'Apologie', in which he claimed that Russell had 'moved' as the axe fell and had therefore been at fault. 1683: Lord Russell, Whig martyr. The executioner, Jack Ketch, was so inept that he took four axe blows to separate the head from the body. In 1686 Ketch was deposed and imprisoned at Bridewell. It is largely from this event that Ketch derives his lasting reputation as an incompetent and/or sadistic butcher, mutually reinforcing with Russell’s martyr status. After… Ketch was notorious for horribly bungling executions, and to this day the name " Jack Ketch " symbolizes an executioner, usually a hangman . Its better to live somehow than not at all.”—Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (18601904). Ketch's notoriety stems from "his barbarity at the execution of Lord Russell, the Duke of Monmouth, and other political offenders." [12] He is mentioned in the Charles Dickens novels Oliver Twist, Dombey and Son, The Pickwick Papers[13] and David Copperfield and in the C. M. Kornbluth science fiction story "The Marching Morons" (1951). And big money if he did it right. Ketch's notoriety stems from "barbarity at the execution of Lord Russell, the Duke of Monmouth, and other political offenders". Ketch's notoriety stems from "his barbarity at the execution of Lord Russell, the Duke of Monmouth, and other political offenders." He is first mentioned in the Proceedings of the Old Bailey for 14 January 1676,[6] although no printed notice of the new hangman occurred until 2 December 1678, when a broadside appeared called The Plotters Ballad, being Jack Ketch's incomparable Receipt for the Cure of Traytorous Recusants and Wholesome Physick for a Popish Contagion. The history of Jack Ketch dates to the 1680s. On the scaffold on July 15, 1685 the duke of Monmouth, addressing Ketch, referred to his treatment of Lord Russell, the result being that Ketch was quite unmanned. ", "[Deathpenalty]death penalty news----worldwide", "Killing > murder, 14th January 1676 (t16760114-7)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jack_Ketch&oldid=1005262208, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 6 February 2021, at 20:30. His name has come to be associated with death, Satan and executions. 2 comments July 21st, 2014 Headsman. ", "[Aug.] 31. John Ketch (died November 1686), generally known as Jack Ketch,[1] was an infamous English executioner employed by King Charles II. He is thought to have been appointed in 1663. 'Here ', said the Duke, 'are six guineas for you. Russell was beheaded by Jack Ketch on 21 July 1683 at Lincoln's Inn Fields. The beheading of Lord William Russell in July 1683 was a typically botched affair of Ketch’s. Ketch's notoriety stems from "his barbarity at the execution of Lord Russell, the Duke of Monmouth, and other political offenders." The execution was said to have been conducted quite poorly by Ketch, who later wrote a letter of apology. [3] Contents. Jack Ketch by Paperback Book, 162 pages ... Lord Russell in Lincoln's Inn Fields on July 21, 1683, and James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth on July 15, 1685, after the Monmouth Rebellion. Ketch had recently executed Monmouth’s friends, Lord William Russell, in a rather messy fashion and Monmouth requested his execution be carried out a bit cleaner, going so far as to offer the executioner money beforehand and promising more should the job be performed skillfully. It was customary for the victim to pay the executioner to ensure a quick finish to the business, but Ketch’s first blow at Russell was badly off target. ), James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth's execution, on, James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth's execution, "On the top of the sheet is a woodcut, in which is represented Edward Coleman [q. v.] drawn in a sledge to the place of execution, exclaiming, 'I am sick of a traytorous disease,' while Jack Ketch, with a hatchet in one hand and a rope in the other, is saying, 'Here's your cure, sir.' The name Jack Ketch has been synonymous with death and execution since the mid-1600s when the real Jack Ketch was hired as an executioner by King Charles II. William Russell, Lord Russell (29 September 1639 – 21 July 1683), was an English politician. Ketch is believed to have received his appointment as public hangman in 1663. Ketch's notoriety stems from "barbarity at the execution of Lord Russell, the Duke of Monmouth, and other political offenders". Jack Ketch was a British executioner in the late 1600's, who executed such notables as Lord Russell in 1683, and the Duke of Monmouth in 1685. He then accosted John Ketch the executioner, a wretch who had butchered many brave and noble victims, and whose name has, during a century and a half, been vulgarly given to all who have succeeded him in his odious office. Even among the bloodthirsty throngs that habitually attended English beheadings, the gory and agonizing display had created such outrage that Ketch felt moved to write and publish a pamphlet titled Apologie, in which he excused his performance with the cl… It is not known if Ketch’s next actions resulted from his being disconcerted, annoyed or distracted by these words. Wednesday at 11. Even among the bloodthirsty throngs that habitually attended English beheadings, the gory and agonizing display had created such outrage that Ketch felt moved to write and publish a pamphlet titled Apologie, in which he excused his performance with the claim that Lord Russell had failed to "dispose himself as was most suitable" and that he was therefore distracted while taking aim on his neck. From the 18th century, the name was also used for the character of the hangman in the Punch and Judy show. On that occasion, Ketch wielded the instrument of death either with such sadistically nuanced skill or with such lack of simple dexterity—nobody could tell which—that the victim suffered horrifically under blow after blow, each excruciating but not in itself lethal. More recently, Jack Ketch plays a role in Neal Stephenson's 2003 and 2004 volumes Quicksilver and The System of the World, the first and last volumes, respectively, in his The Baroque Cycle series (though the last volume is set in 1714, well after the death of the historical Jack Ketch. He was appointed as an executioner and performed his duties with barbarous inefficiency, causing major suffering to those he executed, most notably the Duke of Monmouth, and Lord Russell. Ketch was notorious for horribly bungling executions, and to this day the name "Jack Ketch" symbolizes an executioner, usually a hangman.Beginnings of an Executioner. KETCH, JOHN, commonly known as ' Jack Ketch ' ( d. 1686), executioner, is supposed to have been the immediate successor in the office of hangman to Edward Dun, who had in his turn succeeded Richard Brandon [q. v.], the executioner of Charles I. [7][Note 2], On that occasion, Ketch wielded the instrument of death either with such sadistically nuanced skill or with such lack of simple dexterity – nobody could tell which – that the victim suffered horrifically under blow after blow, each excruciating but not in itself lethal. Jack Ketch, English executioner notorious for his barbarous inefficiency; for nearly two centuries after his death his nickname was popularly applied to all of England’s executioners. We hear of two particularly grisly incidents in this arena: the executions of William, Lord Russell, and the Duke of Monmouth. He executed the death sentences against William Russell, Lord Russell, in Lincoln's Inn Fields on 21 July 1683, and James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, on 15 July 1685, after the Monmouth Rebellion. The execution of Lord Russell was a smooth job, slickly done, compared to what would happen with the Duke of Monmouth. 'Here ', said the Duke, 'are six guineas for you. [Note 1] In 1679, there appears from another pamphlet purporting to be written by Ketch himself, and entitled The Man of Destiny's Hard Fortune, that the hangman was confined for a time in the Marshalsea prison, "whereby his hopeful harvest was like to have been blasted. Ketch's notoriety stems from "barbarity at the execution of Lord Russell, the Duke of Monmouth, and other political offenders". Ketch's execution of Lord Russell at Lincoln's Inn Fields on 21 July 1683 was performed clumsily; in a pamphlet entitled The Apologie of John Ketch, Esquire he alleged that the prisoner did not "dispose himself as was most suitable" and that he was interrupted while taking aim. He spoke and prayed more than half an hour, his body was, after quartering, put into a coffin, and the same day was conveyed to London, and buried privately the Thursday following at night in St. Gregory's church near St. The history of Jack Ketch dates to the 1680s. Die Hinrichtung von Lord William Russell am 21. [3], Because of his botched executions, the name "Jack Ketch" is used as a proverbial name for death, Satan and executioner. He was appointed as an executioner and performed his duties with barbarous inefficiency, causing major suffering to those he executed, most notably the Duke of Monmouth, and Lord Russell. The beheading of Lord William Russell in July 1683 was a typically botched affair of Ketch’s. “The LORD said to Moses, Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.”—Bible: Hebrew, Exodus 24:12. The first recorded mention of him is in The Plotters Ballad, being Jack Ketch's incomparable Receipt for the Cure of Traytorous Recusants and Wholesome Physick for a Popish Contagion, a broadside published in December 1672. Because of his botched executions, the name "Jack Ketch" is used as a proverbial name for death, Satan and executioner. What does jack ketch mean? “Let us be of good cheer, however, remembering that the misfortunes hardest to bear are those which never come.”—James Russell Lowell (18191891), “If I were asked to chose between execution and life in prison I would, of course, chose the latter. Lincoln's Inn Fields was the site of the gruesome and prolonged public beheading of Lord William Russell in 1683, after he was convicted of being part of the Rye House Plot against King Charles II. He executed the death sentences against William Russell, Lord Russell in Lincoln's Inn Fields on July 21, 1683, and James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth on July 15, 1685, after the Monmouth Rebellion. Do not hack me to bits as you did with Lord Russell. But Jack Ketch could not turn down this opportunity for a comeback. You would think, from his name being tied to executions, that he was very good at his job, actually, the inverse is true. In a much lower historical register, Lord Russell’s execution was egregiously bungled by the London headsman Jack Ketch, who had to bash repeatedly at the man’s neck before he could remove it from the shoulders. Sein Name wurde zum Synonym für den Tod, den Teufel und den Henker im Allgemeinen.. On that occasion, Ketch wielded the instrument of death either with such sadistically nuanced skill or with such lack of simple dexterity – nobody could tell which – that the victim suffered horrifically under blow after blow, each excruciating but not in itself lethal. Ketch died in November 1686. He had to deal at least five strokes with his axe and finally use a knife to sever Monmouth's head from his shoulders. [10], In January 1686, Ketch was committed to Bridewell Prison for "affronting" a sheriff. He executed the death sentences against William Russell, Lord Russell, in Lincoln's Inn Fields on 21 July 1683, and James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, on 15 July 1685, after the Monmouth Rebellion. They were all assembled, up on the scaffold and ready to go, when the Duke walked over to Ketch and said: “Here are six golden guineas for you, Ketch. Ketch was the man tasked with executing the Duke of Monmouth: The Duke of Monmouth knew all about Jack Ketch’s reputation for incompetence. He appears in Dickens’ novel… Jack Ketch n. also Jack, Jack Catch, John Ketch, Ketch, Master Ketch, Mr Ketch [proper name of the common executioner Jack Ketch (c.1663–86).Partly on account of his barbarity at the executions of Lord Russell, the Duke of Monmouth and other political offenders, and partly perhaps from the obvious links with the SE catch, his name became widely known. [2] He became famous through the way he performed his duties during the tumults of the 1680s, when he was often mentioned in broadsheet accounts that circulated throughout the Kingdom of England. Jack Ketch - Lord Russell's Execution Lord Russell's Execution Ketch's execution of Lord Russell at Lincoln's Inn Fields on 21 July 1683 was performed clumsily; in a pamphlet entitled The Apologie of John Ketch, Esquire he alleged that the prisoner did not "dispose himself as was most suitable" and that he was interrupted while taking aim. Even among the bloodthirsty throngs that habitually attended English beheadings, the gory and agonizing display had created such outrage that Ketch felt moved to write and publish a pamphlet title Apologie, in which he excused his performance with the claim that Lord Russell had failed to "dispose himself as was most suitable" and that he was therefore distracted while taking aim on his neck. From the name of Jack Ketch (d. 1686), public executioner in London, known in particular for his executions of William, Lord Russell and James Scott, Duke of Monmouth. William Russell, Lord Russell - Wikipedia Monmouth was beheaded by Jack Ketch on 15 July 1685, on Tower Hill . On this date in 1683 at Lincoln’s Inn Fields in London the great Whig parliamentarian William, Lord Russell was beheaded with a legendary want of dexterity by Jack Ketch.. The climax of his career. Do not hack me to bits as you did with Lord Russell. In a much lower historical register, Lord Russell’s execution was egregiously bungled by the London headsman Jack Ketch, who had to bash repeatedly at the man’s neck before he could remove it from the shoulders. Because of his botched executions, the name "Jack Ketch" is used as a proverbial name for death, Satan, and executioner. Paul's. the executioner who beheaded lord Russell and the duke of Momnouth. Ketch's notoriety stems from "his barbarity at the execution of Lord Russell, the Duke of … It was customary for the victim to pay the executioner to ensure a quick finish to the business, but Ketch’s first blow at Russell was badly off target. John Ketch († 1686), allgemein bekannt als Jack Ketch, war ein englischer Scharfrichter (Henker) unter König Karl II.Der irische Einwanderer war vermutlich ab 1663 als Scharfrichter tätig und war für seine brutalen Hinrichtungen berüchtigt. [2][4][5], Ketch took office in 1663, succeeding the late Edward Dun, to whom he had been apprenticed. In a pamphlet probably written by Ketch himself, and entitled 'The Apologia of John Ketch, Esquire' (the title of 'esquire' being still claimed by the hangmen in confirmation of the arms granted to Richard Brandon), in 'vindication of himself as to the execution of the late Lord Russell, 21 July 1683.' "[7] A short entry in the autobiography of Anthony à Wood for 31 August 1681 describes how Stephen College was hanged in the Castle Yard, Oxford, "and when he had hanged about half an hour, was cut down by Catch or Ketch, and quartered under the gallows, his entrails were burnt in a fire made by the gallows". Late 17th century. [From the archives] Jack Ketch, otherwise known as John Ketch or Richard Jaquet, began his twenty-three year career as London’s leading executioner in 1663. The name Jack Ketch has been synonymous with death and execution since the mid-1600s when the real Jack Ketch was hired as an executioner by King Charles II. Ketch was the man tasked with executing the Duke of Monmouth: The Duke of Monmouth knew all about Jack Ketch’s reputation for incompetence. Lord Macaulay, in speaking of the execution of the latter, says: • He then accosted Jack Ketch, the execu tioner, a wretch whose name has, during a century and a half, been vulgarly given to all who have succeeded him in his odious office. Lord Macaulay, in speaking of the execution of the latter, says: • He then accosted Jack Ketch, the execu tioner, a wretch whose name has, during a century and a half, been vulgarly given to all who have succeeded him in his odious office. Do not hack me as you did my Lord Russell. Meaning of jack ketch. He executed William Russell, Lord Russell in Lincoln's Inn Fields on July 21, 1683 and the onlooking crowd were horrified by the clumsy way in which it was performed. His name has come to be associated with death, Satan and executions. You would think, from his name being tied to executions, that he was very good at his job, actually, the inverse is true. Appointment This was the big one. Tower Hill in London. [7], Jack Ketch is one of the characters in Giovanni Piccini (d.1835) The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Punch and Judy as dictated to John Payne Collier, in 1828. He executed the death sentences against William Russell, Lord Russell, in Lincoln's Inn Fields on 21 July 1683, and James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, on 15 July 1685, after the Monmouth Rebellion. Ketch was forced to issue a pamphlet 'Apologie', in which he claimed that Russell had 'moved' as the axe fell and had therefore been at fault. His assistant, Paskah Rose, formerly a butcher, took his place, but on 28 May, following his conviction for robbery, Rose himself was hanged at Tyburn and Ketch reinstated. Jack Ketch was a British executioner in the late 1600's, who executed such notables as Lord Russell in 1683, and the Duke of Monmouth in 1685. ... Lord Russell, in Lincoln's Inn Fields on 21 July 1683, and James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, on 15 July 1685, after the Monmouth Rebellion. Much of his reputation is based on grim incidents reflecting poorly on his skill — not with the noose but with the sword with which he was less practiced. The first recorded mention of him He then accosted John Ketch the executioner, a wretch who had butchered many brave and noble victims, and whose name has, during a century and a half, been vulgarly given to all who have succeeded him in his odious office. Lincoln's Inn Fields was the site of the gruesome and prolonged public beheading of Lord William Russell in 1683, after he was convicted of being part of the Rye House Plot against King Charles II. [7][11] Another book entitled Life of Jack Ketch with Cuts of his own Execution was furnished by Tom Hood for the Duke of Devonshire's library at Chatsworth. Jack Ketch Death, Satan or the Executioner? He was referring the execution of Lord William Russell, whom Ketch had hacked to death in 1683, using several blows of the axe to carry out the deed. [7], In 1836 a fictitious autobiography of Ketch, with illustrations from designs by Meadows entitled The autobiography of Jack Ketch, was published. Thousands and thousands of people watching. Ketch's notoriety stems from "barbarity at the execution of Lord Russell, the Duke of Monmouth, and other political offenders". Stephen College, born at Watford in Hertfordshire, nephew to Edmund College of St. Peter's in the Bayly, suffered death by hanging in the castle yard Oxon, and when he had hanged about half an hour was cut down by Catch or Ketch, and quartered, under the gallows, his entrails were burnt in a fire made by the gallows. He appears in Dickens’ novel… The executioner, Jack Ketch, was so inept that he took four axe blows to separate the head from the body. It is largely from this event that Ketch derives his lasting reputation as an incompetent and/or sadistic butcher, mutually reinforcing with Russell’s martyr status. Russell spent his last day peacefully in the Tower, spending the morning in devotions with the Scottish archbishop Alexander Burnet. They were all assembled, up on the scaffold and ready to go, when the Duke walked over to Ketch and said: “Here are six golden guineas for you, Ketch. John Ketch, who as "Jack Ketch", was an infamous English executioner in the time of King Charles II. He executed William Russell, Lord Russell in Lincoln's Inn Fields on July 21, 1683 and the onlooking crowd were horrified by the clumsy way in which it was performed. He was beheaded by Jack Ketch on 21 July 1683 at Lincoln's Inn Fields. [9], He [the duke] would not make use of a cap or other circumstance, but lying down, bid the fellow to do his office better than to the late Lord Russell, and gave him gold; but the wretch made five chops before he had his head off; which so incensed the people, that had he not been guarded and got away, they would have torn him to pieces. the executioner who beheaded lord Russell and the duke of Momnouth. He was not the only executioner dispatching the condemned at Tyburn, but he was the most infamous, earning a reputation for brutality remarkable even for a man in his profession. Jack Ketch Death, Satan or the Executioner?