Public executioner in England from 1663 until his death in 1686, John Ketch was not very good at his craft and found it necessary to publish an Apologie for his bungled execution of Lord Russell in 1683.
Only two years later, the Duke of Monmouth suffered even more severly at the hands of Ketch after his failed rebellion in support of his claim to the throne.
Ketch was dismissed and imprisoned in 1686 but was reinstated only four months later. He died shortly afterwards.
"Jack Ketch" became the nickname for any public hangman for a long time after John Ketch's death.
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