Richard Brandon
Encyclopedia
Richard Brandon was a 17th century English hangman
who inherited his role from his father Gregory Brandon and was sometimes known as "Young Gregory". Richard Brandon is often named as the executioner of King Charles I
.
in 1649 and he is frequently cited as the man who executed the death warrant of King Charles I
by beheading the King on January 30, 1649, although the precise identity of the executioner is unknown. It is known, however, that when originally approached, Brandon refused to do the job, although he might later have accepted under threat.
A pamphlet purporting to be a confession by Brandon was published posthumously, in which it is stated that he received £
30 for performing the execution, which was given to him 'all in half crowns
'.
The register of St Mary Matfelon, the parish church of Whitechapel
, records "1649. June 2. Richard Brandon, a man out of Rosemary Lane." And to this is added the following memorandum: "This R. Brandon is supposed to have cut off the head of Charles I". This Brandon was the son of Gregory Brandon, and claimed the headman's axe by inheritance - he was even known as "Young Gregory". The first person he had beheaded was the Earl of Strafford
, on the orders of Charles I. Rosemary Lane is the modern Royal Mint Street.
Gregory Brandon was said to be the illegitimate grandson or great grandson of Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk
, whose:
However an ancestry of Richard Brandon from the Duke of Suffolk's illegitimate son Charles is highly unlikely. Charles Brandon died in 1551, eight years before Elizabeth I. accession to the throne and can therefore not be identical with the Charles Brandon who was this Queen's jeweller.
, and was one of the reasons for the decline in popularity of the name Gregory. The name "Gregory" became a general nickname for executioners:
The Brandons were also responsible for the epithet "Squire" used by hangmen (including Jack Ketch
) as Gregory acquired a coat of arms
and became an esquire
, which passed down to his son and their successors.
The two also appeared in satire and works of fiction at the time, like the print "Portrait of Archbishop Laud and Mr. Henry Burton
".
Hangman
Hangman may refer to:* Hangman, an executioner who carries out a death sentence by hanging* Hangman , a game of guessing a word or phrase one letter at a timeIn literature:* Hangman , an enemy of Batman...
who inherited his role from his father Gregory Brandon and was sometimes known as "Young Gregory". Richard Brandon is often named as the executioner of King Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
.
Biography
Brandon was the Common Hangman of LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1649 and he is frequently cited as the man who executed the death warrant of King Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
by beheading the King on January 30, 1649, although the precise identity of the executioner is unknown. It is known, however, that when originally approached, Brandon refused to do the job, although he might later have accepted under threat.
A pamphlet purporting to be a confession by Brandon was published posthumously, in which it is stated that he received £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
30 for performing the execution, which was given to him 'all in half crowns
Half crown (British coin)
The half crown was a denomination of British money worth half of a crown, equivalent to two and a half shillings , or one-eighth of a pound. The half crown was first issued in 1549, in the reign of Edward VI...
'.
The register of St Mary Matfelon, the parish church of Whitechapel
Whitechapel
Whitechapel is a built-up inner city district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, London, England. It is located east of Charing Cross and roughly bounded by the Bishopsgate thoroughfare on the west, Fashion Street on the north, Brady Street and Cavell Street on the east and The Highway on the...
, records "1649. June 2. Richard Brandon, a man out of Rosemary Lane." And to this is added the following memorandum: "This R. Brandon is supposed to have cut off the head of Charles I". This Brandon was the son of Gregory Brandon, and claimed the headman's axe by inheritance - he was even known as "Young Gregory". The first person he had beheaded was the Earl of Strafford
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford was an English statesman and a major figure in the period leading up to the English Civil War. He served in Parliament and was a supporter of King Charles I. From 1632 to 1639 he instituted a harsh rule as Lord Deputy of Ireland...
, on the orders of Charles I. Rosemary Lane is the modern Royal Mint Street.
Gregory Brandon was said to be the illegitimate grandson or great grandson of Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk
Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk
Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk, 1st Viscount Lisle, KG was the son of Sir William Brandon and Elizabeth Bruyn. Through his third wife Mary Tudor he was brother-in-law to Henry VIII. His father was the standard-bearer of Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond and was slain by Richard III in person at...
, whose:
However an ancestry of Richard Brandon from the Duke of Suffolk's illegitimate son Charles is highly unlikely. Charles Brandon died in 1551, eight years before Elizabeth I. accession to the throne and can therefore not be identical with the Charles Brandon who was this Queen's jeweller.
Notoriety
The notoriety of Gregory and "Young Gregory" led to "the Gregory Tree" becoming a euphemism for the gallowsGallows
A gallows is a frame, typically wooden, used for execution by hanging, or by means to torture before execution, as was used when being hanged, drawn and quartered...
, and was one of the reasons for the decline in popularity of the name Gregory. The name "Gregory" became a general nickname for executioners:
The Brandons were also responsible for the epithet "Squire" used by hangmen (including Jack Ketch
Jack Ketch
John Ketch was an infamous English executioner employed by King Charles II. An immigrant of Irish extraction, 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...
) as Gregory acquired a coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
and became an esquire
Esquire
Esquire is a term of West European origin . Depending on the country, the term has different meanings...
, which passed down to his son and their successors.
The two also appeared in satire and works of fiction at the time, like the print "Portrait of Archbishop Laud and Mr. Henry Burton
Henry Burton (Puritan)
Henry Burton , was an English puritan. Along with John Bastwick and William Prynne, Burton's ears were cut off in 1637 for writing pamphlets attacking the views of Archbishop Laud.-Early life:...
".
Further reading
- Bland, James (2001) The Common Hangman: English and Scottish Hangmen Before the Abolition of Public Executions (ISBN 1874113092)
External links
- The Confession of Richard Brandon the Hangman (upon his Death bed), Anglican History