William Kemmler
William Kemmler | |
|---|---|
Portrait of Kemmler | |
| Born | William Francis Kemmler May 9, 1860 |
| Died | August 6, 1890 (aged 30) Auburn Prison, Auburn, New York, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Execution by electrocution |
| Occupation | Produce merchant |
| Criminal status | Executed |
| Spouse | Tillie Ziegler (common-law wife) |
| Conviction | First degree murder |
| Criminal penalty | Death |
William Francis Kemmler (May 9, 1860 – August 6, 1890) was an American murderer who was the first person executed by electric chair. He was convicted of murdering Matilda "Tillie" Ziegler, his common-law wife, a year earlier. Although electrocution had previously been successfully used to kill a horse, Kemmler's execution did not go smoothly.