John Foxton

Who is John Foxton?

John Foxton was an English hangman during the early 19th century. In 1818, at the age of about 50 years, Foxton became the hangman at Newgate Prison in London. Before that, he had assisted his predecessor in that post, James Botting.

Foxton hanged 206 men and 6 women over the next 11 years. His most celebrated hanging was of the five Cato Street Conspirators on 1 May 1820. They had been convicted of conspiring to murder several members of the Cabinet. They also had the honour of being the last to suffer hanging and beheading in Great Britain. In this high profile execution, Foxton was assisted by Thomas Cheshire and an unknown helper who cut off the traitors' heads. Another of his notable hangings was John Thurtell.

On 13 May 1828, while living at 19 Booth Street in Hoxton, Foxton petitioned the Court of Aldermen for a pension. He claimed weakness in his lungs from having performed his duties in foul weather, and was bedridden. Being illiterate, he signed the petition with an ''X''.

Three months after his petition, Foxton was well enough to hang William Corder in Suffolk. Foxton claimed Corder's trousers and stockings by right.