The Villainous heroes

History is full of heroes who turned out to be anything but!

The Thief-taker General

In Georgian London few men were more respected than Jonathan Wild, Thief-taker General. Wild seemed to have a particular gift for finding stolen goods and returning them to their wealthy owners in return for rich rewards. In fact, Wild was the mastermind behind the robberies and when he handed over the so-called burglars to face punishment, they were usually his enemies.

Wild was the most powerful godfather in the city but when his double life was discovered, he went to the gallows. His hanging was so popular that tickets were issued to witness the spectacle.

Robert Knox

Scottish physician Robert Knox was noted for his anatomical expertise. He was also the man for whom Burke and Hare obtained bodies by murderous means when the supply of fresh cadavers proved too slow to satisfy demand.

When the murders were uncovered and the body snatchers were put on trial, the genteel Knox faced no charges. The people of Edinburgh were outraged and his career was ended by the scandal. Even a move to London didn’t help and Knox devoted himself to writing for several years until he made a return to practice as an anatomist at London’s Free Cancer Hospital.

Gilles de Rais

Baron Gilles de Rais was one of 15th century France’s most celebrated heroes. He fought alongside Joan of Arc and rose to the pinnacle of military achievement, whilst amassing a vast fortune.

Baron de Rais’ extravagant lifestyle came crashing down when he was accused of occultism and the murder of innumerable children. In a trial that shocked France, the respectable soldier was found guilty and hanged in 1440. Debates still rage about whether Gilles de Rais was guilty of the crimes for which he was convicted or was a victim of religious persecution. His story inspired Charles Perrault’s bloody fairy tale, Bluebeard.