William Burke

William Burke (1792 - January 28, 1829) was an Irish serial killer who, along with William Hare committed a notorious series of murders in Edinburgh in the 19th century.

Related Topics:
1792 - January 28 - 1829 - Irish - Serial killer - William Hare - Murder - Edinburgh - 19th century

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Born Orrery, after trying his hand at a variety of trades there and serving as an officer's servant in the Donegal Militia, he left his wife and two children in Ireland and emigrated to Scotland about 1817, working as a navvy for the Union Canal. He acquired a mistress, Helen MacDougal, and afterwards worked as a laborer, weaver, baker and lastly a cobbler. By 1827 he was living in a lodging-house in Edinburgh kept by Hare, another Irish laborer, and Maggie Laird.

Related Topics:
Orrery - Donegal Militia - Scotland - 1817 - Navvy - Union Canal - 1827

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:Main article West Port murders

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Condemned by Hare's evidence, Burke was found guilty and hanged at Edinburgh's Lawnmarket on January 28, 1829. According to a report in The Scotsman "During the time of the wretched man's suspension, not a single indication of pity was observable among the vast crowd: on the contrary, every countenance wore the aspect of a gala-day, while puns and jokes were freely bandied about."

Related Topics:
Guilt - Hanged - Lawnmarket - The Scotsman

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The Anatomy Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh holds his death mask and a wallet allegedly made of his skin.

Related Topics:
Royal College of Surgeons - Death mask

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From Burke's method of killing his victims has comes the verb burking.

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