John (Jack) Ketch (died 1686) was an executioner employed by King Charles II. He became famous through the way he performed his duties during the tumults of the 1680s, when he was often mentioned in broadsheet accounts that circulated throughout the Kingdom of England. He is thought to have been appointed in 1663. He executed the death sentences against William Russell, Lord Russell in Lincoln's Inn Fields on July 21, 1683 and James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth on July 15, 1685 after the Monmouth Rebellion. He was either very awkward or sadistic with his beheading technique, and his victims were known to have suffered at their deaths. 1686 (MDCLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland. ... Events and Trends The Treaty of Ratisbon between France and England in 1684 ended the Age of Buccaneers. ... Newspaper sizes in August 2005. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right)1 Capital Winchester, then London from 11th century. ... William Russell, Lord Russell (29 September 1639–21 July 1683), was an English politician. ... Lincolns Inn Fields is the largest public square in London. ... is the 202nd day of the year (203rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events June 6 - The Ashmolean Museum opens as the worlds first university museum. ... James Crofts, later James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth and of Buccleuch (April 9, 1649 – July 15, 1685), was an English nobleman who was executed in 1685 after making an unsuccessful attempt to claim the British throne, the Monmouth Rebellion. ... is the 196th day of the year (197th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events February 6 - James Stuart, Duke of York becomes King James II of England and Ireland and King James VII of Scotland. ... The Monmouth Rebellion of 1685, also known as the Pitchfork Rebellion, was an attempt to overthrow the King of England, James II, who became king when his elder brother, Charles II, died on 6 February 1685. ... Sadism and masochism, in the original sense, describe psychiatric disorders characterized by feelings of sexual pleasure or gratification when inflicting suffering or having it inflicted upon the self, respectively. ...

Ketch's execution of Lord Russell on July 21, 1683 was performed clumsily, and a pamphlet is extant which contains his Apologie, in which he alleges that the prisoner did not "dispose himself as was most suitable" and that he was interrupted while taking aim. On the scaffold (see gallows) on July 15, 1685, the Duke of Monmouth, addressing Ketch, referred to his treatment of Lord Russell, the result being that Ketch was quite unmanned. He had to deal at least five strokes with his axe and finally use a knife to sever Monmouth's head from his shoulders. In 1686, Ketch was deposed and imprisoned at Bridewell. His successor, Paskah Rose, a butcher, was hanged at Tyburn after four months in his office. Ketch was reappointed in his place. He died towards the close of 1686. is the 202nd day of the year (203rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events June 6 - The Ashmolean Museum opens as the worlds first university museum. ... Look up apology in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... These gallows in Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park are maintained by Arizona State Parks. ... is the 196th day of the year (197th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events February 6 - James Stuart, Duke of York becomes King James II of England and Ireland and King James VII of Scotland. ... The Bridewell Palace was rebuilt for Henry VIII in 1515-1520 on the site of an earlier palace. ... Paskah Rose (also known as Pascha Rose) was an English executioner briefly during 1686. ... Butcher shop in Valencia A butcher is someone who prepares various meats and other related goods for sale. ... Tyburn was a former village in the county of Middlesex close to the current location of Marble Arch. ...

As a result, the term Jack Ketch is also used:

• as a proverbial name for death or, sometimes, Satan;
• as a shorthand for the gallows;
• as the name of the hangman in the traditional version of Punch and Judy.

The knot more commonly known as a hangman's knot is also sometimes known as Jack Ketch's knot. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Gustave Dorés depiction of Satan from John Miltons Paradise Lost Satan, from the Hebrew word for adversary (Standard Hebrew: , Satan; Tiberian Hebrew ; Koine Greek: Σατανάς Satanás, Persian: , Satanás; Aramaic: , ; Arabic: , , Geez: , Turkish: Şeytan), is a term that originates from the Abrahamic faiths, being traditionally applied to... These gallows in Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park are maintained by Arizona State Parks. ... A stained glass illustration of Punch by Professor Ignorant Punch and Judy is a popular puppet show featuring Punch and his wife Judy. ... Some knots: 1. ... Hangmans knot The hangmans knot or hangmans noose (also known as a collar during Elizabethan times) is a well-known knot most often associated with its use in hanging. ...

As a figure of death in folklore "Jack Ketch" is also known as "Hanging Jack" and "Mister Graball".

In popular culture

• "Parasite Planet", a 1935 science fiction story by Stanley G. Weinbaum, features a Venusian plant called a Jack Ketch tree that strangles its prey using nooselike loops at the ends of its branches.
• Brass Man, a 2005 novel by Neal Asher, features an AI-controlled military spaceship that has named itself Jack Ketch (and has a fascination for historical methods of execution).
• The System of the World, by Neal Stephenson uses the name Jack Ketch as a nickname for the whichever executioner is currently serving at Tyburn Cross (although the scene takes place in 1714, 28 years after the death of the original Ketch).
• In the Vertigo comic book series Fables, Jack Ketch is Fabletown's executioner.
• In the Alan Moore's comic book series Miracle Man, Jack Ketch is an executioner themed superhero that appears in a dream sequence.
• In the videogame Xenosaga Episode II, the large, axe wielding foes utilize an attack called "Jack Ketch is a Killer."
• The manga Leviathan, volume 4, features a storyline where a villain uses a book to possess civilians with the spirits of historical killers. The protagonist trumps the villain by using the book to possess a comrade with the spirit of Jack Ketch.
• The human host for the Marvel Comics anti-hero Ghost Rider in the 1990s was known as Danny Ketch. Howard Mackie originally wanted to name the host "Jack Ketch" but instead opted to name the Danny's best friend as "Jack" and went with "Danny" for the host.
• A band named "Jack Ketch & the Crowmen" released a 1988 record on Billy Childish's label Hangman Records.

Parasite Planet is a science fiction short story by Stanley G. Weinbaum originally published in the February 1935 issue of Astounding Stories. ... Stanley Grauman Weinbaum (1902-December 14, 1935) was an American science fiction author. ... Brass Man is a 2005 science fiction novel by Neal Asher. ... // This disambiguation page covers alternative uses of the terms Ai, AI, and A.I. Ai (as a word, proper noun and set of initials) can refer to many things. ... The System of the World, a novel by Neal Stephenson, forms the third volume in The Baroque Cycle. ... Neal Town Stephenson (born October 31, 1959) is an American writer, known primarily for his science fiction works in the postcyberpunk genre with a penchant for explorations of society, mathematics, currency, and the history of science. ... Battle of Gangut, by Maurice Baquoi, 1724-27. ... Vertigo logo Vertigo is an imprint of comic book and graphic novel publisher DC Comics. ... Fables is a Vertigo comic book series created and written by Bill Willingham. ... Alan Moore (born November 18, 1953, in Northampton) is an English writer most famous for his influential work in comics, including the acclaimed graphic novels Watchmen, V for Vendetta and From Hell. ... Miracle Man is a supervillain featured in Marvel Comics, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby as one of the first enemies of the Fantastic Four. ... Manga )   (pl. ... Ghost Rider may refer to: Ghost Rider (comics), the supernatural comic book character(s). ... Billy Childish (real name Steven John Hamper) or William Charlie Hamper (born December 1, 1959) is an English artist, author, poet, photographer, film maker, singer and guitarist. ... Hangman Records is a British record label founded in 1986 by Billy Childish. ...

References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.