John Austin (highwayman) facts for kids

John Austin was an English footpad, a type of robber who attacked people on foot. He is known for being the very last person to be executed at the famous Tyburn gallows in London. This happened on November 7, 1783.

Austin was found guilty of a serious crime against a worker named John Spicer from Kent. A judge, called the Recorder of London, described it as a very violent act. After Austin's execution, Tyburn stopped being a place for executions. It had been used for almost 600 years.

The Journey to Tyburn

John Austin was taken from Newgate prison in the City of London. He traveled by cart to the gallows at Tyburn. This journey was about 2.5 miles long. It could take up to three hours to complete.

Austin stood in the cart, held by restraints. Two guards and a chaplain were with him. It was a tradition for the cart to stop along the way. They would pause at St Sepulchre-without-Newgate church. They also stopped at two pubs for a short break.

The Execution at Tyburn

When they reached Tyburn, Austin's cart was placed under a large wooden beam. A rope was put around his neck. Before the execution, he was allowed to speak to the crowd.

His last words were:

"Good people, I request your prayers for the salvation of my departing soul. Let my example teach you to shun the bad ways I have followed. Keep good company, and mind the word of God. Lord have mercy on me. Jesus look down with pity on me. Christ have mercy on my poor soul!"

Sadly, the rope did not work as it should have. It took about 10 minutes for him to die. Because of the serious nature of his crime, Austin's body was taken down. It was then sent to The Company of Surgeons for study. This happened at Surgeon's Hall in the Old Bailey.

End of an Era

After John Austin's execution, the Tyburn gallows were taken apart. This marked the end of an era. From then on, public executions happened at a new scaffold. This new place was called the "new drop." It was located outside Newgate Prison.