Jack Ketch

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John (Jack) Ketch (died 1686) was an executioner employed by King Charles II. 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 England. He is thought to have been appointed in 1663. He executed William Russell, Lord Russell in Lincoln's Inn Fields on July 21, 1683 and James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth on July 15, 1685 after the Monmouth Rebellion. He was either very awkward or sadistic with his beheading technique, and his victims were known to have suffered at their deaths.

Ketch's execution of Lord Russell on July 21, 1683 was performed clumsily, and a pamphlet is extant which contains his "Apologie," in which he alleges that the prisoner did not "dispose himself as was most suitable" and that he was interrupted while taking aim. On the scaffold on July 15, 1685, the Duke of Monmouth, addressing Ketch, referred to his treatment of Lord Russell, the result being that Ketch was quite unmanned. He had to deal at least five strokes with his axe and finally use a knife to sever Monmouth's head from his shoulders. In 1686, Ketch was deposed and imprisoned at Bridewell. His successor, Pascha Rose, a butcher, was hanged at Tyburn after four months in his office. Ketch was reappointed in his place. He died towards the close of 1686.

As a result, the term Jack Ketch is also used:

as a proverbial name for death or, sometimes, Satan;
as a shorthand for the gallows;
as the name of the hangman in the traditional version of Punch and Judy.

The knot more commonly known as a hangman's knot is also sometimes known as Jack Ketch's knot.

As a figure of death in folklore "Jack Ketch" is also known as "Hanging Jack" and "Mister Graball".

[edit] In popular culture

"Parasite Planet", a 1935 science fiction story by Stanley G. Weinbaum, features a Venusian plant called a Jack Ketch tree that strangles its prey using nooselike loops at the ends of its branches.
Brass Man, a novel by Neal Asher, features a military spaceship controlled by AI, and named, Jack Ketch.
The System of the World, by Neal Stephenson features Jack in his historical role at Tyburn Cross (although the scene takes place in 1714, 28 years after the death of the real-life Ketch).
In the Vertigo comic book series Fables, Jack Ketch is Fabletown's executioner.
In the Alan Moore's comic book series Mircale Man, Jack Ketch is executioner themed superhero that apperas in a dream sequence .
In the videogame Xenosaga Episode II, the large, axe wielding foes utilize an attack called "Jack Ketch is a Killer."
The manga 'Leviathan', volume 4, features a storyline where a villain uses a book to possess civilians with the spirits of historical killers. The protagonist trumps the villain by using the book to possess a comrade with the spirit of Jack Ketch.
The hangman in the traditional Punch and Judy puppet show is known as Jack Ketch.