Capital Punishment Amendment Act 1868
Encyclopedia
The Capital Punishment Amendment Act 1868 (31 & 32 Vict. c.24) received Royal Assent
on 29 May 1868, putting an end to public executions in the United Kingdom. The Act required that all prisoners sentenced to death be executed within the walls of the prison in which they were being held,
and that their bodies be buried in the prison grounds. The Act was prompted at least in part by the efforts of reformers such as Sir Robert Peel
and Charles Dickens
, who called in the national press for an end to the "grotesque spectacle" of public executions. Abolition of public executions was one of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Capital Punishment 1864-1866
. A similar measure, the Capital Punishment within Prisons Bill, had been introduced in 1867 but failed for lack of parliamentary time.
The first execution under the new law was carried out by William Calcraft
on 13 August 1868 at Maidstone Gaol
; eighteen-year-old Thomas Wells was hanged for the murder of Edward Walshe, the stationmaster at Dover Priory railway station
. Calcraft had previously carried out the last public execution in the UK, when he hanged the Fenian
Michael Barrett
in front of Newgate Prison
on 26 May 1868.
Royal Assent
The granting of royal assent refers to the method by which any constitutional monarch formally approves and promulgates an act of his or her nation's parliament, thus making it a law...
on 29 May 1868, putting an end to public executions in the United Kingdom. The Act required that all prisoners sentenced to death be executed within the walls of the prison in which they were being held,
and that their bodies be buried in the prison grounds. The Act was prompted at least in part by the efforts of reformers such as Sir Robert Peel
Robert Peel
Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet was a British Conservative statesman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 December 1834 to 8 April 1835, and again from 30 August 1841 to 29 June 1846...
and Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
, who called in the national press for an end to the "grotesque spectacle" of public executions. Abolition of public executions was one of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Capital Punishment 1864-1866
Royal Commission on Capital Punishment 1864-1866
The Royal Commission on Capital Punishment was chaired by the Duke of Richmond. It worked from 1864 to 1866 and was in disagreement on abolition.-Appointment:The Government agreed to a Royal Commission on 3 May 1864...
. A similar measure, the Capital Punishment within Prisons Bill, had been introduced in 1867 but failed for lack of parliamentary time.
The first execution under the new law was carried out by William Calcraft
William Calcraft
William Calcraft was the most famous English hangman of the 19th century. One of the most prolific British executioners of all time, it is estimated that he carried out 450 executions during his 45-year career...
on 13 August 1868 at Maidstone Gaol
Maidstone (HM Prison)
HM Prison Maidstone is a Category C men's prison, located in Maidstone, Kent, England. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service.-History:...
; eighteen-year-old Thomas Wells was hanged for the murder of Edward Walshe, the stationmaster at Dover Priory railway station
Dover Priory railway station
Dover Priory railway station is the main station in Dover in Kent, with the other station being Kearsney situated on the outskirts of Dover. . All train services are provided by Southeastern...
. Calcraft had previously carried out the last public execution in the UK, when he hanged the Fenian
Fenian
The Fenians , both the Fenian Brotherhood and Irish Republican Brotherhood , were fraternal organisations dedicated to the establishment of an independent Irish Republic in the 19th and early 20th century. The name "Fenians" was first applied by John O'Mahony to the members of the Irish republican...
Michael Barrett
Michael Barrett (Fenian)
Michael Barrett was born in Drumnagreshial in the Ederney area of County Fermanagh. In his adult years he became a member of the Fenians....
in front of Newgate Prison
Newgate Prison
Newgate Prison was a prison in London, at the corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey just inside the City of London. It was originally located at the site of a gate in the Roman London Wall. The gate/prison was rebuilt in the 12th century, and demolished in 1777...
on 26 May 1868.