Richard Brandon
Great BritainBiography of Richard Brandon
Richard Brandon was a legendary English executioner of the 17th century. He is widely believed to have carried out the death sentence of King Charles I, beheading him on January 30, 1649. However, there is limited information available about Brandon's personal life and identity.
Brandon's father, Gregory Brandon, was also an executioner, and it was from him that Richard learned the unusual profession. The younger Brandon, sometimes called "Young Gregory," is said to have been the executioner of King Charles I. There are claims that Gregory, and therefore Richard, were descendants of the Duke of Suffolk. It is known that the Duke had an illegitimate son named Charles Brandon. However, it should be noted that Richard's grandfather died eight years before Queen Elizabeth I ascended to the throne, during which time the bastard of Suffolk served as a successful jeweler.
After Richard Brandon's death, a pamphlet was published containing some stories from his life and work. Among other things, the executioner confessed that he received 30 pounds sterling for each execution, exclusively in half crowns. The Earl of Strafford was Richard Brandon's first victim.
Gregory and Young Gregory earned a rather infamous reputation in London. Over time, a new slang term emerged, with gallows being called "Gregory's trees" and executioners simply referred to as "Gregories." Naturally, the seemingly harmless name became highly unpopular. Another nickname for executioners, "squyres," also originated from the Brandons. This term came about since Gregory Brandon had earned the right to a coat of arms and the title of esquire, which was later passed down to his descendants. Even after this, London's executioners were called "squyres" and "Gregories" for a long time, with Jack Ketch, the legendary executioner in the service of Charles II, also experiencing the same fate. The images of the Brandons are often mentioned in satirical and artistic works of the 17th century, such as "Portrait of Archbishop Laud and Mr. Henry Burton."
