They hanged Jack Sheppard, an infamous 18th-century English criminal and folk hero, 300 years ago on 16th November 1724, at Tyburn, London.
His death followed a series of dramatic prison escapes that captured the public’s imagination and made him a notorious figure in Georgian England.
Sheppard was a skilled thief and burglar who became famous for his ability to escape from incarceration. He claimed that he’s been led astray by “bad company and lewd women.”
Over two years, he managed to escape from custody four times, including from the notorious Newgate Prison. These escapades made him a celebrity, with many seeing him as a symbol of defiance against the oppressive legal system of the time.
However, his luck ran out after his final capture. The Old Bailey tried him, sentenced him to death, and executed him before a massive crowd. People believe he faced his execution with courage, cementing his legendary status in popular culture.
He became a favourite figure in verse, popular plays, romances, and burlesques. Throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries, his fame and popularity in Georgian England possibly rivalled Robin Hood’s.
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