William Billington
Encyclopedia
William Billington was an English executioner
. He was on the Home Office
list from 1902 to 1905 and had participated in hangings starting in 1899.
, carried out his first hanging in July 1899. He assisted his father in several more jobs throughout the rest of the year, and underwent formal training in early 1900. He was also an assistant hangman in 1900.
After his father's death in December 1901, William became the principal hangman for England. He was at first assisted by his older brother Thomas
and then by his younger brother John
, along with Henry Pierrepoint
. He was a small celebrity during this period among the populace, many of whom wanted to catch a glimpse of this relatively young man who was the country's executioner. Billington carried out the vast majority of executions from 1902 to 1904. Most notably, he carried out the last one at Newgate Prison
on 2 May 1902 and the first at Pentonville
on 30 September 1902. He also performed a few executions in Ireland, as well.
Billington was married with two children, but he also had problems with alcohol
. In the summer of 1905, he served a one-month prison sentence for failing to pay money to his wife in compliance with a separation order. While he was in prison, his brother and execution partner, John, died. William's last execution was on 25 April 1905. All in all, he carried out 58 hangings as the chief executioner and assisted at 14 more. In his later years, he apparently tried to shun his past as an executioner. He died in 1952.
Executioner
A judicial executioner is a person who carries out a death sentence ordered by the state or other legal authority, which was known in feudal terminology as high justice.-Scope and job:...
. He was on the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
list from 1902 to 1905 and had participated in hangings starting in 1899.
Career
Billington, the son of veteran hangman James BillingtonJames Billington (hangman)
James Billington was a hangman for the British government from 1884 until 1901.Born in Preston, in 1859 he moved with his family to Farnworth, northwest of Manchester. After leaving school he worked in a cotton mill for a time, but by the early 1880s he had become a Sunday school teacher and was...
, carried out his first hanging in July 1899. He assisted his father in several more jobs throughout the rest of the year, and underwent formal training in early 1900. He was also an assistant hangman in 1900.
After his father's death in December 1901, William became the principal hangman for England. He was at first assisted by his older brother Thomas
Thomas Billington (hangman)
Thomas Billington was an English executioner from 1897 to 1901 and was one of four family members who worked as hangmen for England.-Biography:...
and then by his younger brother John
John Billington (hangman)
John Billington was an English executioner. He was on the Home Office list from 1901 to 1905.-Career:Billington came from a family of hangmen. His father, James, was a hangman from 1884 to 1901, and his two older brothers, Thomas and William, were also hangmen.In early 1902, at the age of 21, John...
, along with Henry Pierrepoint
Henry Pierrepoint
Henry Albert Pierrepoint was one of the United Kingdom's executioners from 1901 until 1910. He was the father of Albert and brother of Thomas....
. He was a small celebrity during this period among the populace, many of whom wanted to catch a glimpse of this relatively young man who was the country's executioner. Billington carried out the vast majority of executions from 1902 to 1904. Most notably, he carried out the last one at 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 2 May 1902 and the first at Pentonville
Pentonville (HM Prison)
HM Prison Pentonville is a Category B/C men's prison, operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service. Pentonville Prison is not actually within Pentonville itself, but is located further north, on the Caledonian Road in the Barnsbury area of the London Borough of Islington, in inner-North London,...
on 30 September 1902. He also performed a few executions in Ireland, as well.
Billington was married with two children, but he also had problems with alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
. In the summer of 1905, he served a one-month prison sentence for failing to pay money to his wife in compliance with a separation order. While he was in prison, his brother and execution partner, John, died. William's last execution was on 25 April 1905. All in all, he carried out 58 hangings as the chief executioner and assisted at 14 more. In his later years, he apparently tried to shun his past as an executioner. He died in 1952.