Albert Pierrepoint (30 March 1905 – 10 July 1992) was an English hangman who executed between 435 and 600 people in a 25-year career that ended in 1956. His first execution was in December 1932, assisting his uncle Thomas. His father Henry had also been a hangman. In October 1941 he undertook his first hanging as lead executioner. During his tenure he hanged 200 people who had been convicted of war crimes in Germany and Austria, as well as several high-profile murderers—including Gordon Cummins (the Blackout Ripper), John Haigh (the Acid Bath Murderer) and John Christie (the Rillington Place Strangler). He undertook several contentious executions, including Timothy Evans, Derek Bentley and Ruth Ellis. He executed William Joyce (also known as Lord Haw-Haw) and John Amery for high treason, and Theodore Schurch for treachery. In the 2005 film Pierrepoint he was portrayed by Timothy Spall.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Pierrepoint

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1861:

British chemist William Crookes announced his discovery of thallium, which he had done using flame spectroscopy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thallium

1918:

Fighting began during the March Days revolt in Baku, Azerbaijan, resulting in about 12,000 deaths. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_Days

1964:

Jeopardy! (host Alex Trebek pictured), the popular American game show created by Merv Griffin, made its debut on the NBC television network. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeopardy!

2009:

Twelve gunmen attacked the Manawan Police Academy in Lahore, Pakistan, and held it for several hours before security forces could retake it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Lahore_police_academy_attacks

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

pseudopatient: 1. (dated) A person who pretends to be ill, especially to gain some benefit. 2. (medicine) A person who poses as a patient so that research may be conducted or staff trained. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pseudopatient

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

It's my rule never to lose me temper till it would be dethrimental to keep it.   --Seán O'Casey https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Se%C3%A1n_O%27Casey