Burke the Murderer

Category

Museums & Galleries Item

Item no

24688

Title

Burke the Murderer!! Drawn from life in the Lock-up-House on the day before his execution by his own consent.

Description

William Burke is depicted in his prison cell shacked to the floor by heavy iron chains . He is wearing a frock coat, cravat and trousers. He is standing with his hands clasped. The printed title is Burke, the Murderer!!, below this in italics 'Drawn from life in the Lock-up-House on the day before his execution by his own consent'.

Artist / maker

Crombie, Benjamin William

Size

29.5cm x 23.8

Type

Lithograph

Location

City Art Centre

Accession number

1978/598

William Burke and William Hare were both born in Ireland. They were responsible for the 'West Port Murders' and sold the corpses of their victims to Doctor Robert Knox, an anatomy lecturer, for dissection by Medical Students. Burke and Hare murdered seventeen people between November 1827 and October 1828. They were aided by Burke's mistress, Helen McDougal and Hare's wife, Margaret Laird.
Hare was offered immunity from prosecution if he confessed and gave evidence against Burke. Hare's testimony led to the conviction of Burke, who was hanged in January 1829. Burke was then dissected in public at the Edinburgh Medical College and items made from his skin were sold as mementoes.

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